GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Calvin University baseball team lost both games of its doubleheader at third-ranked Denison by the scores of 9-5 and 12-2 on Saturday.
 
Game 1
 
A big early deficit proved too difficult for the Knights to overcome in a 9-5 defeat in the opener.
 
Denison (15-2) took control early with three runs in the second inning, and then followed with four runs in the third and one more in the fourth frame to build an 8-0 lead.
 
Nate Mason (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) put Calvin (9-9) on the board with an RBI-single in the sixth inning, and the Knights rallied to score four times in the seventh. Logan Nelson (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) and Aidan Jaworowski (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East) hit RBI-singles to start off the scoring, and Mason followed with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 8-5 and brought the tying run to the plate.
 
After the Big Red stranded two Calvin base runners to end the seventh, they tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the eighth, and then secured the final three outs to earn the win.
 
Alex Owen (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) took the loss after allowing seven runs on three hits and five walks in 2.2 innings. The Calvin bullpen pitched well, allowing two runs over the final 5.1 innings, with Ian Schuster (Howell, Mich./Hartland) pitching 3.1 innings and allowing one run.
 
Mason led the offense with two hits and three RBI. Nelson added two hits, while Jaworowski scored twice.
 
Game 2
 
A five-run third inning helped Denison break game two open on the way to defeating the Knights 12-2.
 
The Knights scored a pair of early runs and were tied 2-2 in the third inning, but the Big Red took control in the bottom of the third with five runs on six hits off Calvin starting pitcher Evan Steinbacher (Sparta, Mich./Sparta).
 
The Calvin bullpen held the Knights within striking distance by allowing two runs over the next four innings, but the Big Red were able to end the game with a three-run eighth inning to finish off the sweep.
 
Steinbacher (2-3) allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in 2.2 innings in defeat. Reed Grinstern (Kentwood, Mich./South Christian) pitched two scoreless frames in relief with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Caden Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) and Carter Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) each finished with two hits, with Carter also driving in one run.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "We played a really solid team today, but made too many physical and mental errors," Calvin head baseball coach Kevin Van Duyn said. "We challenged our guys with a tough non-conference schedule to this point, and for the most part we overcame a lot of adversity. We're excited to get conference play going next week."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin baseball returns to action on Friday, March 29, when it hosts The University of Olivet as part of its opening three-game series of MIAA play. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.