MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Calvin softball team started the 2017 season 2-0 with a pair of victories at the Finlandia Dome Classic. The Knights started the day with a 5-0 victory over Edgewood. Sophomore Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) broke the school record with 18 strikeouts in the game. Head coach Becky Hilgert also recorded her first victory as a head coach. Calvin closed the day with a 13-4 victory over UW-Stevens Point.

"It was great to get two wins to start the season," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Anna put forth a stellar effort in game one and Paige was consistent hitting her spots in game two. Our defense back her up with a solid effort. I am most happy with our effort; how we battled offensively and defensively, we had no errors in two games in a unique playing environment, which is pretty outstanding."

The Knights jumped on the Eagles early, putting up two runs in the first inning.

Anna Gernant scored sophomore Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) from third base. Kaley Frank then grounded to second to score Rachel Borden.

In the second inning, freshman Bri Noorman (Jenison, Mich./Covenant Christian) notched her first RBI of her career at Calvin, scoring sophomore Casey Lawler (Novi, Mich./Novi). Maddie DeGroot then scored freshman Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) and sophomore Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) on a ground-rule double.

Anna Gernant owned the circle on Friday with a school record 18 strikeouts, with only one baserunner.

Kayla Groen recorded her first hit as a Knight in the fourth inning with a single up the middle.

Calvin had three hits in the victory.

The Knights finished strong against the Pointers in the second game of the day, scoring all 13 runs in the final two innings.

UW-Stevens Point got on the scoreboard first with a run on a ground-rule double.

In the sixth inning, junior Jessica Brasser (Rockford, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) singled to right field and scored Anna Gernant. Kayla Groen then singled in Jessica Brasser. Junior Kimiko Hinatsu (Romeo, Mich./Romeo) scored Kayla Groen and Maddie DeGroot hit a single to score Kimiko Hinatsu and freshman Katie Mumby (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake).

Casey Lawler got the scoring started in the seventh inning on an error that scored junior Kaley Frank (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) in the sixth inning. Jordan VanEerden then had an infield single that scored Jessica Brasser Kimiko Hinatsu scored Casey Lawler on a fielder's choice. Freshman Mady Ellinger (Troy, Mich./Athens) would score Kayla Goren on a single through the left side of the infield. Kaley Frank sent home Kimiko Hinatsu and freshman Jordan VanEerden (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) on a ground-rule double and Jessica Brasser closed the seventh-inning scoring with a single that scored Kaley Frank and Mady Ellinger.

The Pointers would score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Paige Groom pitched the whole game and finished with two strikeouts.

Mady Ellinger and Jordan Van Eerden both had their first hit in a Calvin uniform against UW-Stevens Point.

Rachel Borden and Jessica Brasser both finished with three hits. Calvin had 15 total hits against the Pointers.