Softball team beats Wooster and Bethany Lutheran in Sunshine State

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The Olivet College softball team improved to 5-0 on the season with two wins today at the Gene Cusic Classic and inside the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Cape Coral, Fla. In the opener, freshman Ashlynn Grubb (LaGrange, Ind./Lakeland) struck out 17 batters, as the Comets beat College of Wooster (Ohio), 4-0. In the second game, Olivet pushed across 15 runs in the fourth inning to defeat Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) College, 15-1.

The Comets scored two runs in the first inning against Wooster. With runners on first and second, a groundout moved both runners up one base each. Senior Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) then lined a pitch off the third baseman's glove and into the left field to score Grubb and senior Alyssa Nielsen (Greenville).

Olivet added another run in the third inning when Nielsen tripled and scored on an infield single by senior Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley). The Comets scored their final run in the fifth inning. Hurosky hit a single to score junior Ashley Milheim (Eaton Rapids).

The four runs was more than enough offense for Olivet, as Grubb allowed only two base runners over the seven innings, and only the leadoff batter of the game got into scoring position. Hurosky went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Lenard also had two RBI.

Bethany Lutheran plated an unearned run in the first inning. The Comets had base runners in each of the first three innings but were unable to scratch across a run. Olivet then sent 19 batters to the plate and scored 15 runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach. In the inning, 10 runs were scored before an out was recorded and nine different Comets drove in a run.

For the game, sophomore Maddy Siebenmark (Bridgman) was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Hurosky, Lenard, Milheim, Nielsen and Siebenmark each drove in a pair of runs. Lenard and Milheim also scored two runs apiece.

In the circle, freshman Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc) pushed her record to 3-0 on the season. She gave up the unearned run on five hits, with two strikeouts and did not walk a batter in four innings. Freshman Kaitlyn Pirochta (Laingsburg/Perry) threw perfect inning of relief.

Tomorrow, Olivet plays Kenyon (Ohio) College at 9 a.m. and Salem State (Mass.) College at 11 a.m.

NOTES: In five spring break games, the Comets have only allowed one earned in 31 innings for a 0.23 ERA. Grubb has struck out 27 batters in 12 innings. At the plate, Nielsen has a team-best .545 batting average, with three triples for a 1.091 slugging percentage. Grubb and Milheim each have a .471 batting average.