Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Calvin softball split its doubleheader on the road at Bluffton, winning 9-1 in the opener and falling in a close contest with a score of 3-2 in game two.
Game 1
The Knights started their scoring in the top of 3rd with a two-run homer by junior Sydney Duong (Kalamazoo, MI / Kalamazoo Christian) to take a 2-0 lead. Junior Kali Yant (Vicksburg, MI / Vicksburg) hit the ball in play to score a runner from third to give Calvin a 3-0 lead after three innings.
Freshman Taylor Sanborn added another run in the 4th with an RBI single to give the Knights a 4-0 lead over the Beavers. Both teams struggled to get any runs in the 5th and 6th inning, but the Knights exploded in the top of the 7th. It started with a 2-run RBI by senior Addi Warner (South Bend, IN / Clay (Lake Michigan CC) to push the lead to 6-0.
Another RBI for Yant came from a double to center field and Calvin was cruising in the 7th with a 7-0 lead. Sophomore Grace Glass (Indianapolis, IN / North Central) completed the offensive outburst with a 2-run RBI double to left center to put the Knights up 9-0. Bluffton was able to get one run in the bottom of 7th, but the Knights held on to win 9-1.
Junior Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, WI / Grafton) picked up her third win of the season by also collecting four strikeouts and holding the Beavers to just five hits. Duong and Warner each finished the game with 3 hits and 2 RBIs while Yant and Glass each had 2 RBIs.
Game 2
Calvin quickly picked up where it left off in game one by grabbing a 1-0 lead in the 1st after a bases-loaded walk by Glass. Bluffton responded by quickly scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 3-1 lead.
The Knights added another run as freshman Kennedi Pepin (Bourbonnais, IL / Bradley Bourbonnais) was hit by a pitch with bases loaded in the top of the third to cut the lead to 3-2.
Both teams couldn't find ways to put runs on the board the rest of the way. The Knights had great opportunities to tie the game in the 6th with a runner on third and in the 7th with the bases loaded, but the Beavers held them off to hold on for the win.
Sophomore Maddy Meredith (Portland, MI / Grand Ledge) was credited for her first loss of the season. The Knights fall to 7-5 overall on the season.
COACHES COMMENTS: "In game one we stayed patient offensively and made needed adjustments later in the game which contributed to a couple of big innings," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Defensively we played error free behind Kirsten who was solid despite not feeling 100 percent. In game two we allowed too many opportunities offensively to slip away. We produced 9 walks and left 10 on base which just won't seed good results. We will continue to learn and grow as a team and look forward to competing next week against several good opponents."
NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to Wheaton next Wednesday for a doubleheader slated to start at 2 p.m. (CDT).
