KENTWOOD, Mich. – The Calvin softball team split with the Kalamazoo Hornets on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets edged the Knights in eight innings in games one, 3-2. The Knights responded with a six inning mercy rule victory in game two, 11-2.  The Knights are now 13-11 on the year and are 3-5 in MIAA play. The victory in game two snapped a five-game losing skid for the Knights. Kalamazoo is now 7-18 on the season and 3-5 in MIAA action.

"They showed great perseverance today," said Calvin softball interim head coach Kevin Vande Streek. "After some of the things this week and losing in extra innings, they showed great perseverance today. Great mental toughness, if you want to play for championships, you have to be mentally tough and they showed that today."

The first game started with senior Lydia Gildea lining a shot down the right-field line in the first inning to score freshman Maddie DeGroot from second base. Gildea scored on a wild pitch.

That would be the last run of the game for the Knights.

The Hornets tied the game in the fifth inning with a bases clearing double by Victoria Najecht.

The Knights and Hornets continued on into extra innings, where Kalamazoo scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning.

Freshman Anna Gernant threw five strikeouts in eight innings on Saturday.

Lydia Gildea and freshman Rachel Borden had two hits in game one.

The Hornets struck first in game two with a run in the first inning and second inning to take a 2-0 lead.

The Knights countered the Kalamazoo run with a five-run third inning. The scoring started with a bunt single by Rachel Borden, who advanced to third base on a throwing error, scoring Maddie DeGroot. Senior Ashley Riemersma singled to the outfield to score Rachel Borden. A double to right field by sophomore Jessica Brasser scored Riemersma. The inning was highlighted by a two-run homerun by Anna Gernant over the left-field fence.

The Knights capitalized on another Kalamazoo error in the fifth inning, freshman Casey Lawler reached on a throwing error that scored Anna Gernant and Jessica Brasser.

In the sixth inning, Anna Gernant started the scoring with a single to right field to score Ashley Riemersma. Sophomore Kaley Frank singled through the middle to score Lydia Gildea. Casey Lawler singled down the right-field line to score Jessica Brasser. The final run was scored by Maddie DeGroot who singled up the middle to score Anna Gernant.

Junior Paige Groom quieted the Hornet bats on Saturday afternoon, Groom notched four strikeouts on the day and held Kalamazoo to six hits.

The Knights has 13 hits in game two, Rachel Borden finished with a game-high three hits, tying her career-high.

The Knights return to action on Monday when they travel to Indiana to face Saint Mary's.