WINTER HAVEN, Mich. - Today the Calvin softball team kicked off its spring break trip to Florida with a win against Lakeland in game one before falling in game two to Swarthmore.
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 6, LAKELAND 2
 
The Knights got things rolling right away Valeria Frias (Wyoming, Mich./Potters House) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to give the Knights a base runner. Senior Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Frias to second before third baseman Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) doubled to left field to score the first run of the game. Two batters later, junior Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) singled through the left side to bring in Dole and make the score 2-0.
 
In the bottom of the third, Gaasta and Dole each found their way on base and then both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Catcher Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) singled through left field to score the first run before Decker tripled down the left field line to score Dole and pinch runner Sage Mougin (New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie).
 
Lakeland tried to find some momentum as they scored two runs of its own in the top of the fourth. However, Calvin had an answer in the bottom of the fifth when Sanborn tripled to right field to push Dole across the plate.
 
Led by junior pitcher Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) the Knights defense held strong for the rest of the game to walk away with the 6-2 victory.
 
Dole, Sanborn, and Decker each recorded two hits while Decker led the way with three RBIs. Ludema finished her showing with seven strikeouts while senior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) picked up the save when she entered the game with bases loaded and recorded the final out.
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 1, SWARTHMORE 2
 
In the second game of the day against Swarthmore, Calvin got on the board early when Frias hit a lead-off double to left field and was brought in two batters later when Dole singled to right field. However, after that the Knights found themselves locked in a defensive battle as pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) worked to keep the Garnets batters off balance. 
 
In the bottom of the sixth Swarthmore gave itself some life when they it tied the game with a double down the left field line. On the next play, with two outs and two runners in scoring position, the Garnets punched a soft line drive through the right side of the infield to score both runs.
 
In the top of the seventh in a do-or-die situation the Knights failed to produce on offense and fell 2-1. Dole led the team with two hits while Hunderman finished the game with four strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Belhaven at 3:15 PM and Ohio Wesleyan at 5:30 PM.