ANGOLA, Ind. - Today the Calvin finished up its showing in the MIAA Tournament in Angola, Ind. where it advanced all the way to the final before falling to fifth-ranked Trine. 
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 3, HOPE 0
 
In the first game of the afternoon the Knights faced the Dutch of Hope College for the second time in two days for an elimination match. Calvin got rolling offensively early in the top of the second inning when Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) gave the Knights a base runner by forcing a walk. Up next, sophomore center fielder Emma Walker (Hamilton, Mich./Saugatuck) cashed in on the scoring opportunity when she doubled to left field and gave the Knights a 1-0 lead.
 
Calvin kept things rolling in the third inning when freshman Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) doubled down the left field line. This brought up sophomore Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) who gave the Knights a boost by sending a shot over the left center fence to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
In the circle, sophomore Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) kept the Dutch scoreless as she threw three strikeouts and only allowed two hits in the 3-0 Calvin win. 
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 3, TRINE 4
 
After beating Hope, the Knights advanced to the championship game where they once again met the Thunder of Trine University. In the top of the first inning, Dole stayed hot as she hit her second home run of the day to give Calvin a quick 1-0 lead.
 
However, Trine was quick to respond as it pushed across three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning to take the 3-1 lead over the Knights.
 
After that things were quiet from both teams as both defenses continued to snuff out any scoring opportunities the opposing team created. It wasn't until the top of the fifth inning that Calvin broke through when Sweetland doubled to right center before Walker followed with a single to put runners on first and third. On the next play, Walker looked to steal second and forced a throwing error from the Thunder catcher that not only allowed Walker to advance to third but also allowed Sweetland to cross the plate and bring Calvin within one. Up next, senior Grace Glass (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) sent a sacrifice ground ball to the left side of the infield and Walker came home to tie the score at 3-3.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, a solo home run from the Thunder allowed Trine to reclaim the lead as the game headed into the seventh and final inning. However, stuck in a do-or-die situation, the Knights were unable to get anything going and Trine went on to claim its third consecutive MIAA Tournament Title.
 
In the circle, Hunderman recorded five strikeouts while giving up three hits.
 
COACHES COMMENT: "I am really proud of how we competed as a group today," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "It is really hard to beat a team four times in eight days and I feel like we were really locked in during the Hope game. Our defense stood strong late in the game when they had runner on and threatened to cut into our lead. Against Trine the difference was one or two swings that went their way. We fought back after getting down early and had had the game in reach. Overall, I feel we have put together a very strong resume to hopefully earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournamnet. Either way, I am proud how we left everything we had on the field this weekend."
 
UP NEXT: Calvin will now turn its attention to the NCAA III Tournament announcement on Monday with the Knights seeking an at-large berth to the tournament. The tournament selection show will take place at 11 a.m. (EST) on Monday at NCAA.com