ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Today the Calvin women's softball team opened the 2025 season in thrilling fashion as they picked up wins over No. 11 Central College and Fontbonne University. 
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 4, Central College 2
 
While the first few innings passed by quietly, the Knights drew first blood in the third inning when freshman Valeria Frias (Wyoming, Mich./Potters House) picked up a leadoff walk. Senior Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) followed that up by giving Calvin another runner when she was hit by a pitch. An infield fly ball allowed Frias to advance to third before stealing home for the first run of the game. Now, with two runners in scoring position, junior Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) punched a single through to left field to score Gaastra and extend the Calvin lead to 2-0.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Knights saw another burst of energy when Gaastra and Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) hit back-to-back singles to right field before both moving into scoring position thanks to a fielder's choice decision. This brought up Decker who added another RBI to her name when she singled up the middle to score Gaastra. On the next play, Dole took advantage of a distracted Dutch defense and stole home to make the score 4-0.
 
Calvin pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) continued her impressive season debut by limiting Central College's scoring opportunities. However, as the Dutch entered the bottom of the seventh in a do-or-die situation, they caught some momentum as a double to left field with bases loaded allowed two runs to cross the plate. 
 
The Knights used this as an opportunity to bring in relieving pitcher senior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) for her first appearance of the season. With two runners still in scoring position, Hazelhoff remained calm and quickly delivered a strike-out to give Calvin the 4-2 win over No. 11 Central College.
 
Decker finished with two hits and two RBIs while sophomore shortstop Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) also chipped in two hits. Hunderman finished her day with nine strikeouts while giving up five hits.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 8, FONTBONNE 0
 
The Knights carried their momentum from their first game into the second against Fontbonne as Gaastra watched four balls go by to give Calvin a base runner in the bottom of the first. Dole advanced the runner when she doubled to right center before sophomore Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) singled through the infield to score both runs.
 
In the second inning, senior Kennedi Pepin (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais) kicked things off with a leadoff walk while Frias singled up the middle and then advanced on the throw to put two runners in scoring position. The Knights then extended their lead as Pepin scored on a wild pitch before Frias scored on an infield error. Later in the inning, Sanborn and Decker hit back-to-back RBIs singles to extend the Calvin lead to 6-0.
 
Calvin capped off their scoring in the bottom of the third inning when Herder stole home and Dole picked up a single to right field to score Gaastra, making the score 8-0.
 
Defensively, the Knights, led by junior pitcher Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) remained airtight as the run rule came into play and Calvin won in just five innings. Ludema finished the day with five strikeouts while only giving up two hits.
 
Dole finished the game with two hits and two runs scored while Sweetland also recorded two hits.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "We had a great weather day, and I know our players were ready to get out and compete," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "The key was for us control our excitement and energy and settle in and stay within ourselves.  We made some good adjustments against the variety of Central pitchers and our offense stayed after it and we were able to string together some key runs early. The last inning Zoe came in in a huge spot with the tying run on second to pick up the save against a top 10 team.  We certainly have several things to clean up both offensively and defensively, but overall, I am pleased to get 2025 off to a positive start." 
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow as they continue their weekend in St. Louis against Central College at 11AM (CST) and Washington University at 3PM (CST).