GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin University baseball team split its doubleheader against Adrian College on Monday, losing game one 8-6 in seven innings before coming from behind to take game two 7-6.

The games were previously scheduled to be played on Saturday, April 1, but were rescheduled for Monday due to inclement weather.

Game 1

The Knights were unable to hold off Adrian in the late innings in an 8-6 defeat in game one.

Patrick Gillen (Jensen Beach, Fla./Jensen Beach) led the Calvin offense early, scoring Carson Warners (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) with a double in the first, and then plating Warners in the third on an RBI-triple, but the Bulldogs still held a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom half of the fifth inning.

The Knights roared back in the bottom of the fifth, as Matt Raymond (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) hit a bases loaded double to tie the game, and Gabe Bonemer (Okemos, Mich./Okemos) put Calvin ahead 6-5 with a double to score Raymond.

Adrian would answer, however, tying the game with one run in the sixth before adding two more in the seventh to take the lead and earn the win.

Alex Owen (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) started the game and pitched three innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out three. Ben Ferguson (Grandville, Mich./Grandville) took the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings of relief.

Warners finished with three hits and three runs scored, while Gillen recorded a pair of hits and two runs batted in (RBI). 

Game 2

Calvin was able to get the split thanks to a 7-6 game-two win in a back-and-forth game played in the rain.

Adrian once again started strong, scoring three runs in the first two innings, but Calvin jumped back in the game on a two-run home run by Carter Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 3-2.

After Nate Mason (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) tied the game with a double to the wall in center field in the fifth, Penn put the Knights in front with a solo home run to the deepest part of center field for his second homer of the game.

The Bulldogs tied the game 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning, but the Knights once again responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Mason started the scoring with a two-run single with the bases loaded, and Will Mueller (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) followed with an RBI-single to push the Calvin advantage to 7-4 heading into the ninth.

Adrian would not go away quietly as it scored twice in the inning to cut the lead to 7-6, but Fletcher Bandstra (Schererville, Ind./Illiana Christian) was able to strand the run on third base thanks to a ground ball to Raymond at third base for the final out to secure the Calvin win and his second save of the season. 

Ryley Reynolds (Meridian, Miss./Russell Charter Academy) earned his first career win with four strong innings in relief, allowing only one run on two hits while striking out three. 

The Calvin offense finished with 13 hits, with Mason recording three hits and three RBI, and Penn adding two hits and three RBI. Penn's two home runs were the first two of his career. 

Calvin moved to 9-11 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play with the split. Adrian moved to 10-11 on the season and 2-1 in league play.

COACH'S COMMENT: "I was proud of the way our guys competed today in tough conditions," Calvin head baseball coach Kevin Van Duyn said. "Patrick Gillen, Carter Penn and Nate Mason led the way with strong days at the plate. We also got a great performance from Ryley Reynolds on mound to keep us close through the middle innings before Fletcher Bandstra came in to close it for us."

NEXT UP: Calvin baseball will return to action tomorrow (Tuesday, April 4) when it hosts Alma College for a single game scheduled to start at 4:00 PM.