Box Score (Photo by Trine's Lindsey Mechalik)
After upsetting Trine earlier in the day, the Calvin softball team advanced to face the winner of the first game between #3 Olivet and #2 Hope, which was the Flying Dutch. The Knights beat Trine 5-1 while Hope downed the Comets 3-1.
The first five-and-a-half innings between the Knights and Flying Dutch provided plenty of scoring, and before the game was suspended due to darkness, Hope built a 13-11 lead. Calvin, as the home team, will be up to bat in the bottom of the sixth when play resumes on Friday at 10 a.m.
After a scoreless first inning, Hope took full advantage of a Calvin error in the second, scoring six runs with two outs as the Flying Dutch took a 6-0 run.
In the game against Trine, the Knights scored all five of their runs in a single inning, and in the game against Hope, Calvin had another big inning up its sleeve.
In the bottom of the third, the Knights batted around the order, getting six hits and scoring eight runs. Junior Christie VanderMeer had two singles and scored two runs in the inning, while senior Ashley Jakus had an RBI triple and a two-RBI single as Calvin took an 8-6 lead.
The Flying Dutch responded quickly as Julie Sobieski belted a two-run homer to tie the game in the top of the fourth at 8-8.
Senior Janelle Agren put the Knights back on top in the bottom of the fourth, bringing in junior Merin Cok on a RBI single.
The Flying Dutch scored two more runs on a double from Sobieski, her fifth and sixth RBI of the game, and after four and a half innings, Calvin trailed 10-9.
Every Hope punch was followed up by a Knights counterpunch, though, and in the bottom of the fifth, RBI singles from freshman Cassidy Vlot and Cok each brought in a run to give Calvin an 11-10 advantage.
The Flying Dutch would not be knocked out, however, and three more runs by Hope in the top of the sixth gave the Flying Dutch a 13-11 lead.
The game was then be suspended due to darkness, and is set to be resumed on Friday at 10 a.m. in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Thus far, Jakus is 3-for-4 with two runs scored a three RBIs while Cok is also 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Knights.
For Hope, Sobieski is 5-for-5 with two runs scored and seven RBI.
Calvin advanced to the winner's bracket final against Hope with a 5-1 upset win over sixth-ranked and top-seeded Trine.
Calvin scored five runs with two outs in the sixth to upset the Thunder.
The Knights took advantage of some extra chances in the sixth. Janelle Agren drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and error. The play put runners on second and third with none out.
After a strikeout, Trine shortstop Haleigh Daniels gunned down Agren at the plate. Batter Ashley Jakus advanced to second on the play.
Calvin (22-13) got its first run when Kelsey Pollock laid down a bunt, but the throw came to the plate and late with two outs as Ashley Riemersma scored to make the score 1-0. Pitcher Chelsea Vlot followed to help her own cause with a two-run single to give the Knights a 3-0 lead. Lina Avila capped the inning, launching a two-run bomb to left center to make the score 5-0. All of the runs were unearned. Avila's home run was her ninth of the year and the 34th of her career.
Trine (33-3) scored its lone run in the bottom of the seventh on a Jamie Schnarr RBI-double.
Vlot pitched a gem for the Knights, scattering four hits and one walk. Vlot improves to 10-5 on the season. She added two RBI's. She retired 11-straight batters at one point.
Carly Searles had two hits for the Thunder.
