OLIVET, Mich. – The Calvin University baseball team finished off a three-game sweep of The University of Olivet with a 14-7 win on Saturday.
 
Calvin (12-9, 3-0 MIAA) jumped in front in the first inning on an RBI-single from Nate Mason (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern), but Olivet (6-14, 0-3 MIAA) answered with two runs in both the first and second frames to take an early 4-1 lead.
 
The bats for the Knights started to get going with an RBI-double from Caden Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) in the third and a run-scoring single by Logan Nelson (Fremont, Mich./Fremont) in the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-3 after four innings.
 
Carter Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) put the Knights in front with a two-run double as part of a four-run fifth inning, but the Comets answered with three runs of their own in the sixth to tie the game at 7-7.
 
Ryan Brown (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia) took over late to push the Knights over the finish line, hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning and then extending the lead with a two-run single in the eighth to help put the Comets away.
 
The bullpen came up big for Calvin after starting pitcher Alex Owen (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) was knocked out of the game after two outs in the first inning. Michial Schuster (Howell, Mich./Hartland) allowed two unearned runs in 3.1 innings of relief, while Matt Reynolds (Hopkins, Mich./Hopkins), Ian Doyle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grandville) and Kyle Koning (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) combined to throw 3.2 shutout innings to close the game. Reynolds (1-0) earned the win after his 1.2 scoreless innings in relief.
 
Brown had a big day at the top of the order, driving in five runs, scoring four times and stealing four bases. Nelson and Mason each finished with three hits apiece, and all nine players in the starting line-up recorded at least one hit in the game.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "Great start to the conference season," Calvin head baseball coach Kevin Van Duyn said. "After getting behind early, we were able to have quality at bats with good execution at the plate while our pitchers pounded the zone. We want to wish everyone a happy Easter with their families, and we're excited to get back to work on Monday."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin baseball returns to action on Tuesday, April 2, when it travels to Alma College for a single game scheduled to start at 4:00 PM.