ADRIAN, Mich. - Calvin baseball picked up a split in away doubleheader at Adrian and handed the 20th-ranked Bulldogs their first league loss of the year.

Game 1

The first game started with the Knights gaining an early lead in the top of the second inning. Junior Matt Raymond (Chicago, IL / Loyola Academy) hit an RBI single to left center to score Junior J.C. Fortmann (Elgin, IL / Elgin) to give Calvin a 1-0 lead. The Knights continued to add to their lead in the third inning.

Junior Nick Vogel (Hartford, WI / Hartford) hit an RBI double to deep left center to score Ryan Petersen and added another run for Calvin. Later in the same inning, Fortmann hit the ball in play on a fielder's choice and scored Vogel from third to give them a 3-0 lead.

Senior Peter VanDyken (Grand Rapids, MI / Grand Rapids Christian) was pitching a stellar game for Calvin as he shut the Bulldogs out the first four innings. Adrian was finally able to get on the board in the fifth inning as a sac fly made it a 3-1 game. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, Calvin held a 3-1 lead before Adrian scored another run to make it 3-2. Senior Trevor VanDuyn (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) came into relief in the seventh and got the save the Knights.

Game 2

In the second game, Adrian (20-6 overall, 14-1 MIAA) struck first as it scored right away in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Knights tied the game in the second inning as senior Ricky Padilla (Poway, CA / Poway) scored on a wild pitch. The top of the third Calvin scored four runs to take a 5-1 lead. Senior Andrew Hung (Waterford. MI / Waterford Mott) started the scoring with an RBI single with the bases loaded.

The next at bat, Raymond hit another RBI single to score the second run for the Knights. Sophomore Dylan Williams (Cedar Springs, MI / Cedar Springs) reached first on a fielder's choice but was able to score two more and give them the 5-1 lead. Adrian answered in the bottom of the third with two runs to make it a 5-3 game. The Bulldogs scored three more runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 6-5 lead into the seventh.

In the top of the seventh, Padilla hit a sac fly out to tie the game. Adrian went scoreless in the bottom half of the frame to force extra innings. It was a battle to the end but with Calvin's bullpen holding strong, but in the bottom of the tenth inning Adrian finally punched through an RBI single with the runner sliding just ahead of the tag to win the game. The Knights move to 12-10 on the season and 7-5 in the MIAA.

COACHES COMMENTS: "Today was the biggest lesson in how to overcome adversity," said Head Coach Kevin VanDuyn. "We battled for 17 innings today and we gave it our best. Proud of this team today."

NEXT UP: Calvin will host rival Hope for a conference doubleheader next Friday at 2 p.m.