Softball team swept by Grand Valley in home-opener

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College softball team was swept by NCAA Division II foe Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in its home-opening doubleheader today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Lakers won by scores of 17-5 and 16-2.

In game one, GVSU took a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top half of the first inning. Olivet got one run back when freshman Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic) drove in junior Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak), who had reached base on a fielder's choice.

The Lakers added three more runs in the second and 10 runs in the third to take a commanding 16-1 lead. The Comets pushed across three runs in their half of the third inning. Junior Bridget Lathers (Grass Lake/Lumen Christi) hit a single to score Greene with the first run, while an error on the play allowed Lenard to score the second run. An illegal pitch brought in the third run.

GVSU closed its scoring with a run in the top half of the fifth. Lenard scored a run for Olivet in the bottom half of the inning on a failed pickoff attempt at third base.

For the game, the Comets had six hits, including 2-for-2 performances by Lathers and Lenard. Greene and Lenard each scored two runs. In the circle, sophomore Breanne Harmon (Quincy) was the losing pitcher, as she allowed nine earned runs on 15 hits in two and one-third innings. Junior Rachel Cook (Traverse City/Central) gave up one earned run in two and two-third innings of relief.

In the nightcap, the Lakers scored three times in the first inning. Olivet answered with two runs in the home half of the second on RBI-singles by junior Brooke Coshow (Niles/Brandywine) and sophomore Ciara Santos (Lansing/Everett). GVSU closed the game with 13 unanswered runs – four in the second, four in the third, one in the fourth and fourth in the fifth.

For the game, the Comets were held to their three first-inning hits. Lathers reached base safely in both of her plate appearances. In the circle, senior Katie Harper (Vassar) suffered her first loss of the season, yielding nine earned runs on 11 hits in two and one-third innings. Cook and Greene pitched in relief.

Olivet looks to bounce back from the losses Saturday when it travels to play Defiance (Ohio) College. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is 1 p.m.