Calvin returned to De Witt Field on the campus of Cornerstone University for another twinbill against rival Hope College on Saturday afternoon. The Knights were trying to bounce back from two one-run losses on Friday.

Calvin could not recover from Friday's losses, however, and a couple of multi-run innings for Hope spelled defeat as the Knights dropped both games by scores of 3-1 and 7-4.

In game one, Calvin scored the first run in the top of the second. Junior Peter Cupery led off the inning with a single. A hit-by-pitch advanced Cupery to second, and a single by sophomore Michael Kamp brought Cupery in to score.

The Knights held the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third, when three runs came in for Hope, all unearned.

Again, Calvin's offense struggled to get anything going, and the Knights were held hitless for the remainder of the game as the Flying Dutchmen claimed a 3-1 win.

Junior Nate Schepers took the loss, pitching all six innings for Calvin, allowing three runs, all unearned, and striking out two.

Cupery and Kamp had the only two hits for the Knights. Currey Thomas pitched all seven innings for Hope, striking out two and facing only 24 batters.

In game two, the Knights again got on the board first in the top of the second. Senior Matt Schepel led off the second inning with a double. Schepel was advanced via a sacrifice bunt from freshman Colt Wolfe, then scored on a single through the left side of the infield by sophomore Travis Kraai.

Kraai then scored on a single by sophomore Jordan VanderWall, and Calvin took a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hope recorded its first hit off starting pitcher Cory Laster. A hit-by-pitch and a walk then loaded the bases. An ensuing base-clearing double by Eric Dawson gave Hope a 3-2 advantage. The Flying Dutchmen added two more runs in the inning, and took a 5-2 lead after four.

In the top of the sixth, Calvin loaded the bases with one out. A pitching change was made by Hope, and the relief pitcher held the Knights without a run in the sixth despite facing a bases-loaded jam.

Two more insurance runs were scored by Hope in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Flying Dutchmen a 7-2 lead.

Calvin showed life in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs. But, the Knights left two runners on, and Hope claimed a four-game sweep with a 7-4 victory in game two, adding two more wins against Calvin on Saturday.

Wolfe went 3-for-3 in game two, while Van Putten and Kraai each went 2-for-4, with Van Putten scoring a run and Kraai scoring a run and hitting for an RBI for the Knights.

Laster suffered the loss for Calvin in the second game, pitching all six innings but allowing eight hits and seven runs.

Calvin falls to 7-8 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA, while Hope moves to 8-7 and 5-1 in conference play.

The Knights now look forward to Monday when they will travel down to Kalamazoo for the final game of the season series. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.