OLIVET, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College baseball team swept a four game series with Olivet with a pair of road wins on Saturday, 15-7 and 7-2. It was Kalamazoo's first series sweep since 2008.
In the opener, Kalamazoo scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings and at least one run in each of the first six. Highlighted by a five-run third, Kalamazoo led 13-0 after the top of the fourth.
Olivet scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 13-2 game before Kalamazoo expanded the lead to 15-2 after the top of the sixth.
The host Comets made a comeback effort with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to get any closer in the 15-7 defeat.
Kalamazoo had 16 hits in the game and was aided by eight walks and four hit batters. Olivet had 12 hits and were limited to just two walks by Kalamazoo pitchers.
Mitchell VanKoevering was 3-for-5 with a triple and four RBI while also scoring twice.
John Jackoviak was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Scott Devine and Mario Ferrini were also 2-for-2 with Devine driving in three runs.
Ian Kobernick was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Marc Zughaib doubled, was hit twice, scored three times and drove in two runs.
Adam McDowell earned the win on the mound, allowing just two runs and five hits in five innings pitched. McDowell struck out five and walked none.
Olivet led 2-0 after three innings in the second game. Kalamazoo used back-to-back doubles, a stolen base and a groundout to score two runs in the top of the fourth to even the score. The Hornets took a 4-2 lead in the fifth on Jack Clark's two-run homer and added two more runs before the inning was over. Kalamazoo added another run in the seventh to complete the 7-2 win.
Nic Janssen improved to 2-2 with the win, allowing five hits and one earned run in four and two-thirds innings. Zack Cole and Zach Popovich allowed just one hit over the final two and a third innings.
Mitchell VanKoevering was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Scott Devine also had a pair of doubles with two RBI and a run scored. Carter Chandler was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Marc Zughaib was hit by another pitch, bringing his season record-setting total to 11.
Kalamazoo improved to 11-9 in the MIAA, setting a school record for conference wins in a season.
The Hornets travel to NCAA Division I Valparaiso University for a single game on Monday, April 21 before returning to conference play at Adrian on Saturday, April 26.