Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 By Mark DeHaan
The Calvin baseball team split a pair of games against Albion on a rainy Friday afternoon. Hosting the Britons, the Knights dropped game one 6-4 before recovering with a 5-0 win in game two.
In the first game, Calvin took a 3-0 lead as the Knights scored a run in each of the opening three innings.
Albion responded with two runs in the fourth, which Calvin answered with a run in the fifth to jump ahead 4-2.
The Britons then plated two runs in the sixth to tie, and added two runs in the seventh to grab the lead while holding the Knights scoreless, to take the first matchup 6-4.
Senior Ben Wohl was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, while sophomore Patrick Avila also went 2-for-3 with one run scored. Senior Grant VanPutten went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Freshman Mike Wierenga pitched 5.0 innings in the start, allowing four runs and seven hits while striking out four.
In game two, senior pitcher Nate Schepers had another fantastic performance on the hill, pitching a one-hit complete-game gem, to lead Calvin to a win. The victory marked the third-complete game shutout win of Schepers' career.
Just as they had in game one, the Knights scored in the first inning, with VanPutten crossing home plate on a fielding error by the Britons.
Calvin plated two insurance runs in the fifth, then added two in the sixth to pull ahead 5-0. Schepers kept the Britons bats quiet, meanwhile, and the Knights claimed a 5-0 victory.
VanPutten was 2-for-3 in game two, scoring two runs and adding one RBI. Junior Jeff Murdock also went 2-for-3, scoring one run.
On the mound, Schepers pitched 7.0 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. His season record improves to 3-1.
"We beat ourselves (in game one), and we've talked from day one not about playing our opponent but playing ourselves. With walks, errors, missed cuts, and missed assignments, we kind of beat ourselves," said head coach John Rypel. "Then game two – no errors, one walk that came in the seventh inning, and a lot of quality at bats. The first one was tough, but it was nice to bounce back."
The Knights move to 9-13 overall and 6-8 in the MIAA with the split of the twinbill, while Albion is now 13-11 and 7-7.
Calvin will travel to Albion tomorrow to play another doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
