GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- The Calvin softball team traveled to Angola, Indiana, to take on the No. 5 ranked Thunder of Trine University Wednesday afternoon. The Knights came out strong as they won the first game in eight innings 4-2 but then fell in the nightcap 2-0.
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 4, TRINE 2
 
Right from the start, the game was tight as both teams battled for an advantage. Senior Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, Wis./Grafton) led the charge for the Knights in the circle as she retired nine straight batters through the first three innings. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that Trine found a chink in Calvin's defensive armor as it was able to push a run across the plate to take the 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth inning the Knights were able to get things rolling offensively as Sydney Duong (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) led off with a double to left field. Hannah Biddlecome (Dallas, Tx./Portage Northern) then stepped into the box and laid down a bunt to the third base side. Biddlecome showed off her speed as she not only made it to first but also advanced to third while the Thunder defense was distracted by Duong safely advancing to third. With two runners in scoring position, Carley Dole hit a 2-run RBI single out to right field, allowing the Knights to claim the 2-1 lead.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning Trine was able to fight back and score a run to send the game into extra innings. However, unlike their 11-inning win over Chicago last weekend, the Knights wasted no time as Duong led off the top of the eighth with a single to right field. Biddlecome followed it up by beating out her second bunt of the day to put base runners on the corners. Dole kept things moving as she forced the Thunder defense to make an error which allowed Duong to score and Biddlecome to advance to third. Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) then stepped into the batter's box and sent a groundball back at the Trine pitcher. While the ball was successfully fielded and tossed to first for an out Biddlecome took off and slide into home to give the Knights a 4-2 lead.
 
Krause and the rest of the Knights defense returned for to the field and retired three straight batters to secure the victory. Krause finished the day with 10 strikeouts while only giving up 4 hits. This game also marked Calvin's highest ranked win since a March 2019 victory over No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan and moved Calvin to 3-0 in extra-inning games this year.

This win also marked the third season in a row with 20 or more wins and the sixth 20-win campaign in the last seven years. 
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 0, TRINE 2
 
In the nightcap, freshman Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) took the mound for the Knights. Trine drew first blood in the top of the third inning when a throwing error by the Calvin defense allowed a run to cross the plate. In the top of the sixth inning the Thunder scored another run when a sacrifice fly to left field allowed the runner from third to cross the plate.
 
Throughout the game the Knights struggled to get the bats going with their best chance coming in the top of the seventh inning when Sanborn hit an infield single. Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) then followed it up with a shot back up the middle to put herself on first and advanced pinch runner Ella Steele (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian) to second. A ground ball to the infield put both runners into scoring position but a hard-hit ground ball to the shortstop recorded the third out of the inning and gave Trine the 2-0 win.
 
Ludema pitched all seven innings for Calvin and finished off her showing with six recorded strikeouts.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Those were two very competitive games by two very good teams," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "I was really pleased with our intensity and focus in game one. Kirsten pitched outstanding and our defense was stellar behind her. When they tied it in the 7^th we weren't shaken and coming out and putting pressure on their defense was huge to get those two runs. Game two they just had a little more offensive production then us, but it was another great battle. You saw MIAA softball at its best."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will welcome the Comets of Olivet College on Saturday, April 22^nd for an MIAA conference matchup. The first game of the day will begin at 1 p.m. and game two will start at 3:p.m.