GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin University softball team welcomed the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern for a non-conference doubleheader where they won the first game and lost the second. After today's games the Knights moved to an overall record of 22-8 while Ohio Northern fell to 21-13.
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 4, OHIO NORTHERN 0
 
In the first game of the evening Calvin got on the board first when Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) led off the bottom of the second inning with a hard-hit infield single. After a sacrifice bunt from senior Emilie Gist (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) advanced the runner to second Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) stepped into the batter's box and delivered a clutch triple over the center fielders head to make the score 1-0.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) commanded the circle for the Knights where she kept the opportunities for the Polar Bears at a minimum.
 
Still holding a one run lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning Calvin looked to get some insurance runs as Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) kicked things with a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line to give the Knights a runner. Two batters later, Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) recorded her sixteenth career triple to score the run and make the score 2-0. Two batters later, with runners on second and third, Decker stayed hot with a single to left field that allowed both runs to cross the plate and extend the Calvin lead.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Calvin made quick work of the Polar Bears as they sat down the first three batters and walked away with the 4-0 victory.
 
GAME 2 
CALVIN 1, OHIO NORTHERN 3
 
In the nightcap, Ohio Northern looked to bounce back and took a quick lead in the top of the second inning when the Polar Bears first baseman hit a solo homerun over the left field fence. They then went on to score one more run that inning to take the 2-0 lead over the Knights.
 
In the fifth inning, Ohio Northern tacked on another run to extend their lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Dole reached based on a fielder's choice before moving herself into scoring position when she stole second. This brought up Sanborn who singled up the middle and brought Dole home to cut the lead to 3-1.
 
On defense, the Knights fended off the threatening Polar Bears in the top of the seventh to give themselves a fighting chance heading into the bottom of the final inning. However, the Ohio Northern pitcher continued to keep Calvin's hitters off-balance as the Knights ultimately fell 3-1.
 
Sophomore Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) started the game in the circle where she recorded three strikeouts before being relieved by junior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) who recorded one strikeout.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Today we had a good battle with a very good regional opponent in Ohio Northern," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Defensively, we generally played very well and make plays for our pitcher. Offensively, we either have it up and down the order or we struggle to just pass the bat and get runners on base. In the second game we didn't really follow the game plan to attack early in the count against an All-Region pitcher and therefore we were unable to execute deep in the count. Good pitchers will take advantage and Ohio Northern did. We have to flush it and get back to work tomorrow against Anderson."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow, Thursday, April 25th, when they welcome Anderson for a non-conference doubleheader. Game one is set for 3:30 PM while game two will start around 5:30 PM.