GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— The Calvin Softball team swept Albion in a conference doubleheader on Monday evening at the Gainey Athletic Complex. 

GAME ONE: 

Calvin 5, Albion 2

The Britons took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Neither team scored a run in the second or third innings and Albion held its one run lead. 

In the top of the fourth, the Britons pulled ahead 2-0. 

Moving into the bottom of the forth, Calvin answered with four key runs to pull ahead 4-2. Starting out the Knights was senior Rachel Borden (Edwardsburg, Mich. / Edwardsburg) as she singled a bunt to bring in junior Grace Quiggle (Saranac, Mich. / Lowell, Lansing CC). Junior Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill. / Lincoln Way East) then scored off of an error to tie things up. Next, junior Hannah Horvath (Caledonia, Mich. / Caledonia/ Lansing CC) singled to right field to bring in Borden as Calvin pulled ahead. Rounding out scoring in the inning was senior Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea) off of a single from senior Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich. / Unity Christian).

The Knights recorded one more run in the ballgame as Groen blasted a double to left center and sophomore Grace Stock (Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg) scored and Calvin walked away with the 5-2 win. 

Sophomore pitcher Ellie Borst (Hudsonville, Mich. / Unity Christian) recorded her fifth win in the circle as she had six strikeouts and walked zero batters. 

GAME TWO:

Calvin 9, Albion 2 

Both teams came out battling as the game remained scoreless through the first four innings. 

It was Calvin who struck first in the top of the fifth as DeGroot singled to left center to bring in Horvath and sophomore Kennedy Geiger (Clarksville, Mich. / Lake Odessa) to take the 2-0 edge. Sophomore Grace Stock (Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg) then had a single and freshman Hannah Biddlecome (Portage, Mich. / Portage Northern) scored. Closing out the scoring for the inning was DeGroot off of a ground out to third base from Quiggle and Calvin took the 4-0 lead. 

With the bottom of the six underway, it was the Britons who got on the board next off of a fielding error and sacrifice hit to tighten the ball game to within two. 

Moving on to the seventh inning, Calvin went on a hot streak recording five runs to pull ahead 9-2. 

Albion with one more opportunity to score some runs, fell short and the Knights took the 9-2 victory. 

Sophomore pitcher Bri Leegwater (Zeeland, Mich. / Holland Christian) recorded her fourth victory at the mound as she had three strikeouts and only walked two batters. 

COACHES QUOTE: Becky Hilgert stated, "Overall very happy to get those two conference wins. I thought Bri and Ellie really stepped up and stayed in control and attacked. Batters and we cut down on the walks which was one of our goals. Defensively, we were flat out of the gate, but regrouped and continued to grind it out and make plays. Offensively, I would have liked to to have seen us execute earlier in both games. We had runners on early but couldn't convert but came through with a big inning late in both games. More work to do but overall two nice team wins. 

UP NEXT: The Knights return to action on Thursday as they host Bluffton for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.