KISSIMMEE, Fl. - Today the Calvin softball team went 1-1 on day four of their spring break trip.
GAME ONE
CALVIN 3, HUSSON 4
In their first game of the day the Knights matched up against the Eagle of Husson. Calvin jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the first inning when Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) kicked things off with a lead off single to left field. A well placed sacrifice bunt from senior Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) moved the runner to second before two wild pitches allowed Dole to steal third and eventually home.
Husson answered a few innings later when a defensive error from the Knights defense allowed the Eagles to push a run across and tie things up, 1-1. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) got Calvin rolling when she beat out a bunt to start the inning. Herder advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third when Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) hit an infield single. Decker quickly stole second to put two runners in scoring position for Emma Walker (Hamilton, Mich./Saugatuck) who singled to bring in one of the runs. Two batters later, Dole picked up an RBI when she singled to right field to give Calvin the 3-1 lead.
The Eagles continued to put pressure on the Knights as they scored one run in the top of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh inning, Husson caught some breaks on offense which allowed them to push two runs across the plate and take the lead for the first time in the game. In the bottom of the seventh, despite Emilie Gist (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) getting on base to lead off the inning, the Knights were unable to string together some hits and they notched their first loss of the season.
Sophomore Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) started in the circle for the Knights where she recorded seven strikeouts and only three hits before she was relieved by Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) in the sixth inning. Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) also saw some time in the circle as she entered the game in the seventh inning.
GAME 2
CALVIN 10, REGIS 0 (FIVE INNINGS)
Looking to bounce back in their second game of the day the Knights turned their attention to the Pride of Regis. Calvin got things going in the second inning when Walker, Herder and Ella Steele (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian) all found a way on to load the bases for the Knights. This brought up Sage Mougin (New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie) who's infield ground ball confused the defense enough to not only allow Walker to cross the plate but for Mougin to be safe at first, once again loading the bases. On the next play, Dole forced the Pride defense to make an error and allowed two runs to cross the plate and give Calvin the 3-0 lead.
Calvin tacked on another run in the top of the third when Mougin singled up the middle to score Herder and make the score 4-0. In the top of the fourth inning Glass got things going with a lead off single before Gist got hit by a pitch to give the Knights two base runners. Transfer Emma Tornes (Dorr, Mich./Wayland) then entered the game and smacked a double to right center to pick up two RBIs on her first at bat in the maroon and gold.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Knights kept their foot on the gas as Steele sent a leadoff single back up the middle. Steele stole second while freshman pinch hitter Brooklynn Evans (Port Huron, Mich./Marysville) drew a walk and took her base. This brought up Glass who beat out a bunt before an error by Regis first baseman allowed Steele to score and the rest of the runners to advance. A fielder's choice allowed Mougin to score and a sacrifice ground ball from Tornes gave the Knights yet another run. Calvin rounded out their scoring for the day when Decker singled up the middle to score Gist and give Calvin the 10-0, enough for the run rule to be enforced and the game to end after just five innings.
On defense, led by Hazelhoff in the circle, the Knights did not allow many scoring opportunities for the Pride. Hazelhoff recorded five strikeouts in her showing while only giving up two hits.
COACHES COMMENT: "I give Husson credit," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "They are an NCAA region team and they fought to the end and didn't quit. We again made a few undisciplined baserunning mistakes early in the game that really cost us down the stretch. We are still working through our lineup to figure out who will take hold of the moment when the pressure is the highest. This game was a good indicator for us of the level we need to play both mentally and physically against good teams."
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow when they round out their spring break trip by facing UMass Dartmouth at 11:30 a.m. and Gordon at 1:45 p.m.
