ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. - Today the Calvin softball team traveled to Elizabethtown, Ky. to compete in the first day of the Pioneer Classic hosted by Transylvania University.
GAME 1
CALVIN 2, SPALDING 1
Right away the Knights found themselves locked in a pitching battle as both defenses kept scoring opportunities at a minimum. Calvin got at least one runner on base every inning but it wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning when they were able to take advantage. Senior Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) led off the inning with a walk before a single from Emilie Gist (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) put two runners on for the Knights. This brought up junior catcher Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) who sent the ball right back up the middle to score both runs and give Calvin the 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Spalding was able to push one run across the plate but that would be all the Calvin defense would be willing to give up as the Knights went on to win 2-1. Sophomore pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) went all seven innings in the circle where she recorded seven strikeouts.
GAME 2
CALVIN 3, TRANSYLVANIA 10
In their second game of the day the Knights went down early as Transylvania scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After tacking on one run in both the second and third inning the Bats kept things rolling by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Looking to start digging themselves out of the hole, Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) kicked off the fifth inning by reaching second base after forcing the Bats defense to make an error. A fly ball advanced Decker to third before another Transylvania fielding error allowed her to score and Ali Schutz to be safe at first. Up next was second baseman Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) who hit a triple and scored pinch runner Sage Mougin (New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie). The Knights wrapped up their scoring for the inning when Ella Steele (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian) singled down the right field line and brought in Mougin to make the score 8-3.
Sophomore Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) commanded the circle for Calvin where she recorded three strikeouts.
COACHES COMMENTS: "Today I felt we lacked energy," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Out of 14 innings I think we only truly competed maybe 3 or 4 innings and against good teams that will not cut it. We need to find our swagger and energy that carried us to good results in Florida. I challenged our group to quickly flush today and trust our training and preparation and bring the energy because we face two more good opponents tomorrow."
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow for day two of the Pioneer Classic when they take on Defiance at 10 a.m. and Wartburg at 12:15 p.m.
