DANVILLE, KY - The Calvin baseball team escaped the frozen wonder winterland of West Michigan and officially opened its 2014 season in the less frigid climate of Kentucky Friday afternoon and evening. Calvin opened the day with a 7-3 loss to Defiance College of Ohio but came back to defeat the host Colonels of Centre 6-1 in an evening matchup.

In the win over Centre, Calvin collected 10 hits off of three Centre pitchers to gain its first victory of the year. Peter Cupery went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double while Grant Van Putten went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Senior Jack Jorgenson (Milwaukee, IL/Milwaukee Lutheran HS) also had two hits in the victory.

On the mound, junior Nate Schepers (Holland/Holland Christian HS) tossed hitless ball into the fifth before the Colonels scored their lone run of the game on a triple and a groundout.

Schepers went six innings to pick up the win, striking out six and allowing only two hits. Senior Jeff Victor (Holland/Holland Christian HS) came on in relief and pitched three innings of shutout relief. Victor got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth by striking out two and ending the game on a groundout. Victor finished six strikeouts in three innings of work.

Calvin is back in action on Saturday, taking on Defiance College at noon at Centre's baseball complex.