Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.- Today the Calvin softball team traveled to Alma where they swept the Scots to open MIAA conference play. Calvin took game one 6-1 and game two 5-2. 
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 6, ALMA 1
 
The Knights didn't wait long to get things rolling as senior Hannah Biddlecome (Dallas, Texas/Portage Northern) singled to left field. Biddlecome then showed off her speed as she stole second and then found her way home when Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) forced the Scots defense to make an error.
 
This run also marked a milestone for Biddlecome as it made her the all-time career runs scored leader for Calvin softball with 126 runs.
 
In the top of the second inning Emilie Gist (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) led off with a single to left field. Two batters later Emma Walker (Hamilton, Mich./Saugatuck) singled to right center to put runners on first and third for the Knights before a wild pitch allowed a run to score to give Calvin a 2-0 lead.
 
Alma was able to push a run across the plate in the bottom of the third inning but bring the score to 2-1. Things were silent until Calvin struck again in the top of the fifth when Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) doubled to left field, scoring Biddlecome and Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant). Decker then advanced to third on a wild pitch and then crossed the plate when the Alma catcher made an error to extend the Knights' lead.
 
Calvin rounded out the scoring for the game in the top of the fifth inning when Sanborn singled to left center. Two batters later she was brought home on a fielder choice to give the Knights the 6-1 victory.
 
Senior Kirsten Krause (Fredonia, Wis./Grafton) got the win on the mound for Calvin where she recorded seven strikeouts and only gave up three hits.
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 2, ALMA 2
 
The Knights struck first in the bottom of the first when Sydney Duong (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) found her way on base by forcing the Scots defense to make an error. Two batters later she was brought home when Sanborn singled up the middle to give the Knights a quick 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second inning Alma hit an inside of the park homerun to tie things up. However, in the bottom of the inning Calvin answered with a home run of its own when Gist sent one over the left center fence to give the lead back to the Knights.
 
In the top of the fourth inning Alma pushed a run across to tie the score once again at 2-2. Calvin's next scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth when it loaded the base. Dole stepped into the box and sent a shot to left center, scoring two runs. The Knights scored their final run of the day when Sanborn hit a single to score Biddlecome and give Calvin a 5-2 win.
 
Sophomore Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) started on the mound for Calvin before being replaced in the fourth with freshman Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland). Ludema picked up the win in relief of Hazelhoff, pitching the final four innings of shutout relief.

Today two wins also marked the first double header sweep for Calvin over the Scots since 1989 and the first on Alma's home field since 1988.
 
COACHES COMMENT: "Certainly a great start to our MIAA season," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "I thought our energy was the best it has been all year and we kept that strong for 14 inning. Offensively, we did a good job of getting runners on in multiple innings and we had key two out hits in both games to score runs to keep the pressure on. Defensively we had a few innings where we were able to fight out of it unscathed. Overall, two great team wins."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Tuesday when they welcome Albion to Gainey Field. Game one is set to being at 3 p.m. and game two at 5 p.m.