WINTER HAVEN, Fl. - Today the Calvin softball team wrapped up their first block of games on their spring break trip against Husson and Kean. After dropping both games the Knights move to 5-5 overall.
 
GAME 1
CALVIN 1, HUSSON 2
 
In their first game of the day the Knights took on the Eagles of Husson where they quickly found themselves locked in a defensive battle. Led the junior pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) Calvin looked to keep the Eagles batters off balance and snuff out any scoring opportunities.
 
It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth inning that Husson broke through the Knights armor and pushed two runs across the plate to take the lead. In the top of the seventh Calvin got some momentum when senior Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) found her way on base. She was moved into scoring position thanks to a single from Valeria Frias (Wyoming, Mich./Potters House) before being brought home by sophomore shortstop Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian).
 
However, that was as far as the Knights were able to cut into the Husson lead as the Eagles defense recorded the final out as Calvin fell 1-2. Frias finished the game with three hits while Herder chipped in two. In the circle, Hunderman finished her appearance with three strikeouts and one earned run.
 
GAME 2
CALVIN 4, KEAN 8
 
In game two the Knights fell behind early as the Cougars from Kean scored two runs in the first before adding another one on in the top of the third. 
 
In the bottom of the third inning Calvin looked to get things rolling as junior third baseman Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) doubled to right field to give the Knights a base runner. Up next, Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) forced a walk before being replaced with pinch runner Reese Veltman (Wayland, Mich./Wayland). An error from the Kean defense moved both runners into scoring position before Pepin took advantage of the opportunity with a shot back up the middle, allowing both runs to cross the plate.
 
Heading into the top of the fourth, the Cougars took advantage of some Calvin pitching struggles and scored five runs to extend their lead to 8-2. The Knights tried to bounce back in the bottom of the inning when a triple from Dole scored Herder. Two plays later a Kean error allowed Dole to cross the plate to make the score 8-4. However, that is as close as the Knights would come as the Cougars closed things out defensively to better Calvin.
 
Herder led the way offensively with three hits while Pepin had two hits and two RBIs. Dole, Frias, and junior Ella Steele (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian) all accounted for two hits apiece.
 
Junior Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) started the game in the circle for the Knights before being replaced by senior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) in the fourth.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Friday, March 14th when they take on Mount Union at 9:30 AM and Carthage at 2:30 PM.