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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin University baseball team struggled to contain the Kalamazoo College offense in a pair of losses on Saturday. The Knights dropped the opener 19-9 in eight inning before losing game two 14-3.

Game 1 

Kalamazoo scored in each of the first four innings to build a lead, and then put game one away with a nine-run eighth inning to win the opener 19-9.

The Hornets jumped in front in the first inning on a two-run home run by Ryar Rinehart, but the Knights answered with two of their own in the bottom of the frame on a double by Caden Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) followed by an RBI-groundout by Matt Raymond (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy).

Kalamazoo would continue to press at the plate, scoring once in the second and then three times in both the third and fourth to build a 9-3 lead after four.

Leading 11-3 after seven, the Hornets put the game away with a nine-run eighth inning. The Knights answered with six runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, which included a three-run home run by Patrick Gillen (Jensen Beach, Fla./Jensen Beach), but could not add any more to extend the game.

Gabe Bonemer (Okemos, Mich./Okemos), Gillen, Penn and Carter Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) each finished with two hits apiece for Calvin. Gillen recorded three RBI and scored two runs, while his home run was his team-leading fourth of the season. 

Ian Doyle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grandville) fell to 3-4 on the mound in defeat after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits in three innings.

Game 2 

The Hornets continued to punish Calvin pitching in game two on the way to a 14-3 win to secure the series sweep.

Caden Penn opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI-double down the right field line to score Bonemer, and the Knights held that lead into the third inning.

After the Hornets scored twice in the third, Calvin answered with a Raymond RBI-single to score Gillen to tie the game back up at 2-2 after three innings.

Kalamazoo would take control from there, scoring 12 runs in the next four innings while holding the Knights to one run to finish the game in seven.

Kyle Pretzer (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) started the game on the mound and allowed two runs on five hits through three innings. Alex Owen (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) fell to 1-1 on the season after allowing four runs in 0.2 innings of relief.

Caden Penn led Calvin with two hits in game two, while Nate Mason (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) reached base three times with one hit and two walks.

Calvin fell to 13-15 overall and 5-6 in MIAA play following the two defeats. Kalamazoo improved to 22-6 on the season and 10-1 in league play with the two wins.

NEXT UP: Calvin baseball will return to action on Friday, April 21, when it travels to Trine University for the start of a three-game weekend series.