OLIVET, Mich. - The Alma College softball team split with Olivet College Saturday (Apr. 30), falling to the Comets 5-4 in the opener and defeating them in the nightcap, 5-1.

With Melissa Tavidian (New Hudson/South Lyon) coming off back-to-back no-hitters, the senior ace allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings of work Saturday.

The Scots opened scoring in the top of the third with two runs before Olivet answered with four runs of its own to take the two-run lead. The Maroon and Cream led off the inning with one out as Anne Westerman (Gaylord/St. Mary's Cathedral) struck out. Megan Knochel (Pinconning) was issued a walk as Laura Bell (Walled Lake/Walled Lake Western) homered - her fourth of the season - to score both runs in the inning. Olivet started off with a runner on base on balls. A single and an ensuing double scored the leadoff runner. A double down the left line and a fielding error in left allowed two more runs to score with one runner still on the bases. A final single scored the innings fourth run before Tavidian got the final out when Olivet's Schmansky went down swinging.

The Scots showed poise, adding two more to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Westerman led off with a single to give the Scots a runner. Knochel flied out to the cathcer and Bell took base on balls, moving Westerman to second. Kristy Muxlow (Brown City) came in to pinch run for Bell as Megan Colligan (Northville/Novi) flied out to center. Shannon Harrington (Dewitt/St. Johns) doubled into left field to score Westerman and Muxlow.

The Scots went down in order in the top of the seventh and needed to make a defensive stand in the bottom of the inning but  Olivet lead off with a single to left field and moved to second on a wild pitch. A bunt moved the leadoff hitter to third, putting runners at the corners. The Scots intentionally walked Shufelt and with the winning run on third, Shunkwiler hit and RBI single to give the Comets the 5-4 win.

In game two, the Scots were back on track as Kay McDonald (Rose Bush/Mt. Pleasant) pitched for the Maroon and Cream, working seven innings, striking out 10 and allowing just one run on five hits.

Alma lead off with two runs in the first and another in the second to get an early 3-0 lead. Looking for more, they added two more in the fifth before Olivet was able to generate one run in the top of the sixth.

McDonald picked up her third win of the season to move to 3-1 on the year. The Scots improve to 26-8, 14-2 in MIAA action.