KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Knights moved to 16-18 on the year and 3-9 in the MIAA after splitting Saturday with the Hornets in Kalamazoo. After sweeping arch-rival Hope on Friday, the Knights extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-0 victory in game one. The Hornets offense swarmed in game two and stung Calvin, 14-5.

The Knights and Hornets found themselves in a defensive battle in game one, with neither school getting on the scoreboard until the top of the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) reached on an error that scored freshman Katie Mumby (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake). Sophomore Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) then singled through the right side of the infield to score DeGroot.

Calvin scored three more runs in the seventh inning with a pair of doubles. Junior Kaley Frank (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) doubled down the rightfield line to score Katie Mumby and sophomore Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea). Anna Gernant doubled to the gap in left field to score Frank.

Katie Mumby led the way with three hits in game one.

"We had another strong pitching and defensive performance in game one," said Calvin head coach Becky Hilgert. "Offensively we battled all game and eventually we were able to string together a few key hits at crunch time."

Anna Gernant dominated in the circle once again on Saturday. She held the Hornets to only one hit on Saturday and had 10 strikeouts. She has 207 strikeouts on the season, 20 away from tying the school record of 227, set in 1997 by Shauna Koolhaas. Gernant improved to 12-8 on the season.

Calvin put three runs on the scoreboard in the first inning of game two. Anna Gernant double to right field to score Maddie DeGroot. Freshman Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) tripled to the gap in left field to score sophomore Casey Lawler (Novi, Mich./Novi)  and Anna Gernant.

The Hornets would respond with 10 runs in the second inning to take the lead back.

In the bottom of the second inning, junior Jessica Brasser (Rockford, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) scored Katie Mumby on a ball that didn't leave the infield.

Maddie DeGroot cut the Kalamazoo lead to 11-5 in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to score Kristen Newman.

Kalamazoo added three more runs in the fourth inning.

Senior Paige Groom (Potterville, Mich./Potterville) and freshman Mady Ellinger (Troy, Mich./Athens) both recorded a strikeout on Saturday. Sophomore Kayla Carter (Holbrook, Mass. / South Shore Christian Academy) made her first appearance of the year in the circle and did not allow a hit.

Maddie DeGroot led the Knights with three hits; freshman Jordan VanEerden (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) recorded a hit in one at bat.

"We had a solid first inning in game two," said Hilgert. "But again, we have to maintain that competitiveness for the entire game. I felt defensive we played cautious instead of in attack mode and ultimately we have to continue to work on our mental toughness. Each game is a battle and we just have to keep fighting."

The Knights return to action on Monday in a non-conference doubleheader for beltline bragging rights at Cornerstone.