DECATUR, Il. – Calvin gave the top-ranked Tigers of DePauw University a fight but fell 5-3 in the winner's bracket final Friday evening on the campus of Millikin University.

With the loss, the Knights move into an elimination game Saturday morning against the College of Mount Saint Joseph with the game slated to start at 10 a.m. (CST).

Calvin took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a solo home run to left by senior Grace Stock (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg HS).

DePauw (37-2) answered with two runs in the top of the second, using three hits and a passed ball to take a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Calvin tied the game as junior Hannah Biddlecome (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) reached base on a two-out bunt single, moved to third on a single to center by Stock and came home on a throwing error.

In the fifth, DePauw came up with a three-run inning, using four hits and a Calvin error to take a 5-2 lead. Two of the three runs were unearned.

Calvin (29-9) got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as Stock lined a home run that bounced off the top of the right-centerfield wall and over to make it a 5-3 game. The home run was the fifth of the year for Stock and also gave her 50 RBI's on the season, breaking a Calvin single-season record with the previous record of 48 set by former Calvin catcher Lydia Gildea in 2016.

After the second home run by Stock, DePauw pitcher Cami Henry retired the next batters she faced to complete the win.

Sophomore Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, Wisc./Grafton HS) took the loss for Calvin to fall to 7-4 on the season. Senior Ellie Borst (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) tossed two innings of shutout relief, allowing only one hit.

Friday's two games marked Calvin's opening two contests in the NCAA III Tournament after the Knights found out they had advanced through Thursday with Geneva bowing out of the tournament due to Covid-19 protocols. According to head coach Becky Hilgert, the Knights were ready to play. "We found out late Wednesday that we would be moving into Friday without having to play a game and that's kind of the way this year has gone," said Hilgert. "It was another unique situation, not unlike many we have faced this year. With the women we have on our team we have just learned to roll with everything. We had a great practice Wednesday and another yesterday. That gave us two good days to prepare for the (artificial) turf field and we were ready for today. Tonight's game had a lot of energy to it. It had a bit of a championship atmosphere."

For Stock, her home runs allowed her to break a record previously set by the player she eventually replaced at catcher after Gildea graduated in 2016. "Lydia has always been a huge role model for me," said Stock. "She was a big reason why I chose to come to Calvin. I have learned a lot from her. To break her record is special because of the person that she is. Tonight, I was just trying to do whatever I could to help my team. I was facing a great pitcher. I wanted to be aggressive at the plate. I knew if I could make contact, her (pitcher's) speed would do the rest with the ball going out."

The Knights will now turn around on short rest to face a team they have not faced this year in the Lions of Mount Saint Joseph. "It's a short turnaround but it's what you play for as a college athlete," said Hilgert. "We plan to use our adrenaline and play hard. We are looking forward to playing a new team. That's been part of the fun this weekend is facing teams we haven't seen this year. It's exciting and we are looking forward to another day of competition tomorrow."