CLERMONT, Fla. – The Calvin softball team improved to 5-3 on spring break and 8-4 on the year with a pair of victories on Thursday in Florida. The Knights started the day downing the Dutchwomen of Union 5-1 and edged Colby in the final game of the day 9-8.

"We struggled a bit at the plate so we went to the short game against Union," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "We executed several opportunities to get a few runs across. Anna did a nice job keeping the Union hitters off balance and our defense played well."

Sophomore Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) started the game with a triple to left field. Sophomore Rachel Borden (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) then scored her on a fielder's choice.

The Knights struck again in the fourth inning when junior Jessica Brasser (Rockford, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) tripled to right field. Junior Kaley Frank (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) scored Brasser on the next play.

Maddie DeGroot tallied her second run of the game in the sixth inning, crossing home plate on a sacrifice bunt from Jessica Brasser.

Union would tack a run onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a 3-1 game.

In the seventh inning, sophomore Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) scored sophomore Maggie Kaercher (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) on a fielder's choice and sophomore Casey Lawler (Novi, Mich./Novi) singled to right field, scoring Kayla Groen.

Sophomore Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) finished the game with 13 strikeouts. Thursday was the third time this season she has recorded 10 or more strikeouts.

After giving up two runs in the top of the first inning to Colby, the Knights tied the game in the bottom of the first. Kaley Frank flied out to center field to score Maddie DeGroot. Rachel Borden then scored on an error.

"We jumped out to a nice lead and Paige worked hard to limit Colby's opportunities," said Hilgert. "We were one out away but we have learn to finish teams off. This week we have been a little inconsistent finishing a full 7 innings. In the extra inning our defense stepped up and we were able to execute in the bottom of the eighth with a sac bunt from Jess to move Rachel to third and Kaley came through with the walk off hit."

In the bottom of the third inning, Calvin claimed the lead with five runs. Anna Gernant started the scoring with a homerun to right field that scored Jessica Brasser. Freshman Katie Mumby (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake) sent another shot over the fence to score Casey Lawler and freshman Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East).

Anna Gernant made it an 8-3 game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Rachel Borden.

The Mules would not go away and tied the game with five runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Kaley Frank sealed the victory with a shot over the Colby infielder and into right field to score Rachel Borden in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Senior Paige Groom (Potterville, Mich./Potterville) pitched 6.2 innings, with Anna Gernant pitching the last 1.1 innings.

The Knights close the spring break portion of their schedule on Friday against Buffalo State and New Paltz.