GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- Calvin swept a doubleheader from the visiting Olivet Comets, winning a pair of run-rule games by scores of 8-0 and 19-0. The Knights improve to 22-8 overall and 8-2 in the MIAA.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 8, OLIVET 0
 
The Knights started strong in the bottom of the first inning as senior Hannah Biddlecome (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern HS) gave the Knights an early baserunner when she beat out a bunt. Biddlecome then proceeded to move herself around the bases as she stole second and third. Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant HS) then singled through the left side of the infield to score Biddlecome and give Calvin the 1-0 lead. Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland HS) then stepped up and doubled to right center field to put two runners in scoring position. This brought up Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) who fouled off four pitches before sending a shot that hit the left line foul pole for a three-run homerun. The home run was her second of the year with both shots coming at home and both clanging off the left-field foul pole.
 
In the bottom of the second inning sophomore Sage Mougin (New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie HS) kept things rolling when she singled to second base. Two batters later Biddlecome tripled down the left field line which allowed Mougin to score and extend the lead to 5-0. This triple also marked the 13th of Biddlecome's career and made her the Calvin career triples leader.
 
In the bottom of the third inning Sanborn led off by forcing the Comets defense to make an error. Sophomore Josie Vink (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian HS) then entered the game as a pinch runner and put herself into scoring position as she stole second base. Decker then doubled through the left side to score Vink and pick up her fourth RBI of the game.
 
Biddlecome found her way back on base when she reached first on an error, stole second and then scored on another error. In the fifth, Calvin was able to gain the run-rule win as junior Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central HS) singled, moved to second scored the clinching run on a double by senior Kali Yant (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg HS).
 
Senior Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, Wisc./Grafton HS) went the distance for the Knights, spinning a one-hit shutout while striking out seven and walking just one in improving to 8-5 on the season.
 
GAME TWO
Calvin 19, Olivet 0
 
Calvin used 16 hits and a handful of Olivet errors to claim the win. The Knights scored two runs in the first, nine in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth to gain the victory.

Senior Sydney Duong (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian HS) led off the game with a solo home run – her fourth of the season and ninth of her career, moving her into a tie for eighth place on the Calvin career home run list.

Dole belted a two-run homer in the fifth – her team-leading eighth of the season. Her eight home runs sits sixth on the Calvin single-season home run list.

Duong scored three runs with a hit and two base on balls. Dole went 2-for-3 with four RBI while Biddlecome went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Glass went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Sophomore Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI.

Calvin used four pitchers in the five-inning contest. Freshman Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland HS) went the first inning, sophomore Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian HS) went the next two with freshman Mia Miller (Kalkaska, Mich./Kalkaska HS) tossing the fourth and freshman Brooke Hunderman (Grandville, Mich./Calvin Christian HS) throwing the fifth. Hazelhoff picked up the win to up her record to 4-0 on the year. She struck out three batters without allowing a hit or a walk.
 
COACHES COMMENT: "Great to pick up two more MIAA conference wins," said Calvin head softball coach Becky Hilgert. "Overall, I felt we had high energy in both games and offensively we stayed aggressive and executed in each inning. Our pitching staff was efficient and defensively we played error free which was our top goal coming in today's games."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin will travel to Adrian next Thursday for a key conference doubleheader slated to start at 3 p.m.