ALMA, Mich. - Calvin traveled to Alma for a three-team pod and faced the host Scots as well as Saint Mary's. Calvin dropped its opener, falling to Alma 9-4 but came back to hold off Saint Mary's 5-4 in game two to gain a Friday split. The Knights are now 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA.

GAME ONE
Alma 9, Calvin 4

Calvin grabbed a 4-0 lead but Alma used a six-run sixth inning to claim the win.

Sophomore Sidney Duong (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian HS) had a pair of run-scoring singles to help Calvin gain a 4-0 advantage but the Scots came up with two in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game. Alma then used a combination of hits and Calvin errors to break away in the sixth.

Calvin was credited with 10 hits in the loss with junior Hannah Biddlecome (Portage, Mich./Portage Central HS), senior Grace Stock (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg HS), senior Kennedy Geiger (Clarksville, Mich./Lake Odessa HS) and Duong all collecting two hits apiece.

Senior Bri Leegwater (Zeeland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) took the loss.

GAME TWO
Calvin 5, Saint Mary's 4

Calvin used a three-run second inning to take a 4-1 lead and then picked up a valuable insurance run in the sixth to help hold on for the win.

Duong and Biddlecome both had RBI doubles to help stake Calvin to a 4-1 advantage. Biddlecome then singled in a run in the sixth to give the Knights a 5-3 advantage. The run proved crucial as Saint Mary's rallied with an unearned run in the top of the seventh and had two runners on board with two outs when freshman Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central HS) made a game-saving catch on the run in left on a sinking fly ball down the line.

Glass had a hit, a run scored and a stolen base. Biddlecome and senior Hannah Horvath (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia HS) and junior Addi Warner (South Bend, Ind./Clay HS) all had two hits apiece.

Sophomore Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, Wisc./Grafton HS) went the distance in the circle to pick up the win, upping her season record to 2-0.

COACHES COMMENT: "Overall, I was happy with our start in both games, but we still need to clean up a few things in the middle innings and eliminate giving our opponents extra chances on offense," said Calvin head softball coach Becky Hilgert. "We had nice production from a few key people offensively to get us on the board early in both games. We are excited to get back on the field tomorrow and continue to improve, make plays, and compete."

NEXT UP: Calvin will be the host site of another three-team MIAA pod on Saturday with the Knights facing rival Hope at noon. Albion will then meet Hope at 2 p.m. with Calvin set to face Albion in the game to follow.