By Mark DeHaan

Calvin softball completed its season against Olivet College on Saturday, dropping a pair of games by identical 13-5 scores.

The Knights also honored three players who were playing in their final game in a Calvin uniform: junior Alyssa Bryan, senior Kelsey Pollock, and senior Christie VanderMeer.

In game one, the Knights and Comets were tied after three innings at 2-2.

Olivet then plated seven in the top of the fourth, including a pair of two-RBI hits, to build a 9-2 advantage.

Calvin got one run back in the bottom half of the inning, which was matched by an Olivet run in the top of the sixth.

The Comets scored three more in the seventh to push its lead to 13-3.

The Knights responded with two in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run shot from Pollock, but could not complete the comeback as Calvin fell 13-5.

Junior Lydia Gildea went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored, while Pollock finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.

Freshman Makela Chapman took the loss in the circle.

For Olivet, Devon Mayse was 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

In game two, the Knights jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning.

Olivet got on the board in the third on an RBI double.

The Comets then took the lead in the fourth as a grand slam put Olivet on top 6-2.

Calvin drew within one with three runs in the top of the fifth, but a quick response from the Comets in the bottom of the fifth saw four runs put Olivet ahead 10-5.

The Comets then plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to induce the mercy rule with a 13-5 final score.

Freshman Kaley Frank was 2-for-4 in game two with one RBI, while Pollock was 1-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.

Sophomore Paige Groom took the loss in the circle.

For Olivet, Kris Forest was 2-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored.

"We never really put it together; when we got good pitching our defense let us down; when we got good at bats we didn't get the pitching we needed," said head coach Tim Syrek. "The nice thing is, we have a lot of young kids coming back and they got a lot of valuable experience. I simply believe that we will be back in the tournament next year. I want us to grind out and get back to the tournament, winning 20-plus games and doing what Calvin is capable of doing."

"They are quality kids," said Syrek about the three honorees, playing in their final Calvin games. "They were kids that you love to coach and love to have on your team. Their legacy is greater than our win-loss record; their legacy is the relationships that they've made."

The Knights end their season at 10-22 overall and 4-12 in the MIAA.

Gildea finished the year with a final season batting average of .407 which ranks eighth on the Calvin single-season list. Her final season slugging percentage of .617 also ranks seventh on the Calvin single-season records list.