GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin baseball finished out regular season play by splitting a doubleheader with Albion by losing game one 6-4 and winning a close game two with a final score of 3-2. With the game two win, Calvin clinches a spot in next week's four-team double-elimination tournament.
Game 1
Albion 6, Calvin 4
The Knights started the first game of the day by taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Senior Rick Padilla (Poway, CA / Poway) drove in the opening run on an RBI groundout that brought home a runner from third.
Albion battled right back in the game by scoring one run in the third and four in the fourth inning to lead 5-1 over Calvin. The Knights scored a run in the fourth with an RBI groundout by senior Ryan Petersen to cut the deficit to 5-2
The Britons held the Knights scoreless through the fifth to the eighth inning and added another run in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-2.
In the bottom of ninth, Calvin showed some fight with a two-run RBI double by senior Andrew Hung (Waterford, MI / Waterford Mott) to make it 6-4. The Knights had runners in scoring position but couldn't close the deal as a deep fly ball with the bases loaded was snared by the Albion rightfielder to end the game.
Senior Hayden White (Spring Valley, CA / Grossmont) took the loss for Calvin with two walks and one strikeout.
Calvin had nine hits in the loss including three from senior Matt Raymond (Chicago, Il./Loyola Academy) and two from freshman Gabe Bonemer (Okemos, Mich./Okemos HS).
Game 2
Calvin 3, Albion 1
The Britons scored right away in the top of the first to take the early 1-0 lead over the Knights. Calvin answered right back in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Raymond to tie it at 1-1.
Petersen added another run in the bottom of the second with an RBI double to extend the lead to 2-1. The Knights again scored again the in the bottom of the third with an RBI single by senior Nick Vogel (Hartford, WI) to put them up 3-1 over the Britons.
Senior Zach Thor (Woodbury, Mn./New Life Academy) got the start and went 5.2 innings before giving way to sophomore Nolan Coil () who pitched 1.1 innings of shutout relief.
Both teams went scoreless in innings four through seven until Albion cut the deficit to just one. The Briton scored one run in the top eighth to make it a 3-2 game going into the bottom of the eighth.
Senior Eli Johnson (Stillwater, OK / Fairview) closed out the game for the Knights, going the final two innings to collect his first save of the year in sealing the 3-2 win.
Calvin outhit Albion 11-8 with Peterson and Raymond collecting three hits apiece. Hung had two hits as well.
Calvin finishes the regular season 18-16 overall on the season and 11-10 in the MIAA.
The Knights secure the fourth seed in the upcoming four team MIAA Tournament next week.
COACHES COMMENTS: "Baseball is tough, and it was a grind today and we battled all the way to the end," said head coach Kevin Van Duyn. "Give Albion credit as they had nothing to play for but battled us to the very end. It felt like a playoff atmosphere which will help us prepare for next week. In the second game we came out early and more relaxed to get the lead. We are eager for next week and we were picked to finish fifth and finished fourth, so it shows how well are team has performed this year."
NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to the top seed in the MIAA Tournament next Wednesday for its MIAA Tournament opener.
