RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College softball team began play with a sweep of the University of Olivet on Opening Day on Saturday.
Prior to action,, Earlham Hall of Fame Alumnus Randy Sadler threw out the honorary first pitch in Ellie Bewley Stadium.
GAME ONE: EARLHAM 9 OLIVET 1
Tatum Rickert played a complete game in the circle for Earlham in game one with one run on one hit, and eight strikeouts.
Bo Shelton led the Quaker offense, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and a home run.
Malaya Tanglao had three hits with two doubles and one RBI.
Shelton pelted the first runs of the season for EC with a two-run homer to straight center field in the bottom of the first inning. Tanglao brought in a run in the bottom of the second with a double to center field.
With runners on second and third, Olivet hit an infield groundout that scored its only run of the game in the top of the third inning.
Kylie Rayburn stole home on a double steal play in the bottom of the fourth inning, before
Emmerie Stump hit the second deep shot of the day out to center field for three runs.
Rayburn knocked an infield single for an RBI in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Tanglao ended the game with a walk-off double to bring in two runs.
GAME TWO EARLHAM 9 OLIVET 2
Morgan Cooksey threw a complete seven innings from the circle with three hits and 15 strikeouts. Cooksey also went 2-for-3 with a run scored on offense.
Stump recorded two hits and two RBI playing center field in game two. Shelton went 2-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases.
Stump hit an RBI single to right field to get the Quakers started in the bottom of the first inning. Earlham then plated four runs on six hits in the bottom of the third inning.
Olivet scored its two runs in the top of the fourth inning, before
Nikki Alston hit an RBI groundout in the bottom of the frame.
Tiffany Sowder knocked an RBI double to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Stump laid down a bunt for an RBI hit, and the Comets walked in a run.
The Quakers will have a week off before traveling to THE Spring Games Tournament in Ft. Meyers Florida over spring break. Earlham is scheduled to begin the tournament against Monmouth College on March 11.
