Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky..- The Knights finished their trip to the Pioneer Classic by going 1-1 on the day. They fell to Washington University of St. Louis 5-2 before finding their bats and taking down Hanover 18-10.
 
GAME 1
WashU 5, Calvin 2
 
In the first game of the day the Knight took on the Bears of Washington University. Calvin was able to get things going early in the game as senior Sydney Duong (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) led off the top of the first inning with a walk. Duong then showed her speed as she stole second and advanced to third on a ground ball. Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) was able to force the Bears defense to make an error which allowed Duong to score for the first run of the game.
 
In the bottom of the first, WashU was able to string some hits together off freshman pitcher Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) to score a run of its own. In the bottom of the second inning the Bears took advantange of a Calvin fielding error as they pushed two more runs across the plate. WashU continued to carry the momentum as the Beards added another run in the third and fourth, giving them a 5-1 lead over the Knights.
 
Calvin looked to bounce back in the top of the fifth as Kali Yant (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) led off the inning with a double down the left field line. A ground ball advanced Yant to third before Emma Springer (Three Oaks, Mich./River Valley) entered the game as a pinch hitter and was able to hit a ground ball that brought Yant home.
 
Unfortunately, the WashU defense bunkered in and didn't allow the Knights any other scoring chances as the game ended 5-2 in the Bears favor.
 
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 18, HANOVER 10
 
In the second game of the day the Knights found themselves in a high scoring shootout against the Panthers of Hanover College. In the top of the first inning Hanover struck first as it was able to quickly push four runs across the plate.
 
The score remained 4-0 in Hanover's favor until the bottom of the third inning when Duong led off with a triple to right field. Senior Hannah Biddlecome (Dallas, Tx./Portage Northern) then stepped up and laid down a bunt. Biddlecome beat out the bunt at first which allowed Duong to cross the plate for the Knights first run of the day. Later in the inning, with two runners in scoring position Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Biddlecome to score from third. Next, a single from Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) allowed pinch hitter Ali Schultz (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville), who had previously got on base by fielder's choice, to score for the Knights third run of the inning. Two batters later Emma Walker (Hamilton, Mich./Saugatuck) forced the Panthers defense to make an error and allowing two more runs to score.
 
In the top of the fourth Hanover looked to respond as it scored five runs of its own. In the bottom of the fourth Duong led off with her second triple of the game before being brought home on a Biddlecome sacrifice fly to left field. This brought up Dole who sent a solo homerun over the center field fence. The Knights kept things rolling as Sanborn was able to earn a walk before a Glass single advanced her to second. With runners on first and second, Yant was able to force the Panthers left fielder to make an error, allowing Calvin to score two more runs to tie the game 9-9.
 
Hanover was able to steal a run in the top of the fifth to take the lead, but the Knights were far from being done. In the bottom of the fifth, Duong singled to left field and Biddlecome singled with a bunt. Schultz then forced another error from the Panthers defense which allowed both baserunners to score and placed her on first. Next up was Sanborn who sent a shot to left field and Schultz crossed the plate to give Calvin the 12-10 lead.
 
The Knights continued to build on their lead in the bottom of the sixth when Yant started things up with a lead off single. Walker laid down a sacrifice to move Yant to second before a wild pitch allowed her to advance to third. Springer then earned a walk and was replace by pinch runner Lily Gaastra. A fumbled ball by the Panthers catcher allowed Yant to steal home and Gaastra to steal second. Two batters later, with runners on first and second, Dole ripped a triple to left field which allowed both runners to score. The score was now 15-10 in the Knights favor. Dole was then brought in by Schultz when she doubled to center field. Calvin rounded out their scoring with a bang when Sanborn sent a two-run homer to center field and giving the Knights the 18-10 win.
 
Sophomore pitcher Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) started on the mound for the Knights but was replaced by senior Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, Wis./Grafton) in the first inning who would go the rest of the way for Calvin.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Today was another challenging weather day but I felt we did our best to control what we could control," said head softball coach Becky Hilgert. "In game one we lacked fire on offense and allowed the WashU pitcher to continue to keep us off balance. We needed to dig in a little more offensively and make better adjustments and we just had a few too many undisciplined at bats in key moments when we could have narrowed the gap. They are a top 25 team for a reason but we certainly had opportunities and didn't execute in key moments. Game two saw a lot of hits and runs and was a bit unpredictable. I was happy how we kept attacking offensively, even getting behind early and I think that is certainly the kind of production we are capable of regularly if we stay discipline and fundamental. Overall, it was a great weekend against top level competition and we leave knowing we still have room to get better and continue to learn and grow as a young team."  

UP NEXT: The Knights will be back on the field on Friday, March 24^th when they travel to Ohio Northern for a double header. The first game will begin at 3 p.m. and the second at 5 p.m.