CLEVELAND, Ohio - Today the Calvin softball team saw its NCAA Tournament run and 2024 season come to a heartbreaking end after falling to Case Western Reserve University in the NCAA Regional Championship series.
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 0, CASE WESTERN 4
 
In the first game of the day Calvin entered the game unbeaten and therefore was the designated home team. In the top of the first inning the Spartans of Case Western came out with something to prove as it quickly got rolling offensively as two hits allowed the Spartans to push the first run of the game across the plate.
 
In the bottom of the inning, the Knights looked to respond when lead off batter Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) was hit by a pitch and took her free base. She advanced to second off of a sacrifice ground ball from freshman shortstop Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) but unfortunately that's where she would be left stranded as the Spartan defense retired the side.
 
The next four innings were quiet for both teams as sophomore Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) and the rest of the Calvin defense kept Case Western at bay. However, in the top of the fifth inning the Spartans scraped together another run after taking advantage of a triple. At this point, Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) entered the game in relief for Ludema and recorded three quick outs to get Calvin out of the inning.
 
Case Western Reserve boosted its lead in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a two-run home run. On offense, the Knights were unable to get things rolling with Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) recording the only hit for the Knights as they fell 4-0. However, since that was only the Knights' first loss in a double elimination bracket format, the two teams headed into game two to decide the NCAA Regional champion.
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 1, CASE WESTERN 3
 
In the second game of the day Calvin became the visiting team and looked to get rolling early as lead off batter Gaastra took her free base after forcing four balls to start the top of the first inning. Herder followed up with a single before a walk from Dole loaded the bases for the Knights with no outs. However, the Spartan defense closed all the gap and sat the next three Calvin batters down in order with no damage done.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Case Western carried its momentum into its offense as it strung together enough hits to get two runners across the plate and take the 2-0 lead. 
 
The next offensive action happened in the top of the fifth inning when Herder got on base with a single through the right side of the infield. Up next, Dole stepped into the batter's box and doubled to left center to score Herder and cut the Spartan lead down to one. In the bottom of the inning, Case Western didn't wait long to respond as it scored another run to reclaim a two-run lead.
 
Both teams went scoreless for the next two innings and the Knights entered the top of the seventh inning in a do-or-die situation. Unfortunately, the Spartan defense remained strong and sat down three batters in order as Calvin's NCAA Tournament run and 2024 season came to a close.
 
In the circle, Hunderman went all seven innings and recorded two strikeouts.
 
COACHES COMMENT: "Tough results today but really proud with how we battled and fought to the end," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Unfortunately we just didn't have much of a spark offensively even though we had runners on base in several occasions in both games. We've been known this season to score a lot of runs with two outs but today that magic just wasn't there. I give CWRU a lot of credit they are an experienced team who has been in these moments before and they were very locked in and played very free and loose. I am just so proud of our team, finishing with a program record 34 wins and getting to another regional championship final. Finishing the season 34-12 was quite the feat against some really good teams. This weekend was special and we will have 18 returners next year who have been apart of this moment and that is so important on the drive and desire to get back. To our four seniors, they are unbelievable women who have only ever put the team and the program first and foremost. Emma, Ali, Grace and Emilie are servant leaders who made me a better coach and I will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to make a little difference in their lives and their experience at Calvin."