WINTER HAVEN, Fl. - Today the Calvin softball team got back to work as they recorded wins over Mount Union and Carthage to improve to a 7-5 overall record.
 
GAME 1 
CALVIN 5, MOUNT UNION 5
 
The Knights got things rolling early offensively as sophomore second baseman Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) singled back up the middle. Back-to-back walks from Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) and Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) loaded the bases before senior Kennedi Pepin (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais) hit a ball hard enough to force the Mount Union defense to make an error and brought two runs home.
 
Calvin tacked on another in the top of the third inning when Pepin doubled to right center to score Dole before the Purple Raiders notched two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Mount Union managed to push another run across the plate two innings later to even the score at 3-3.
 
In the top of the seventh the Knights gave themselves two baserunners when Dole and Sanborn smacked back-to-back singles. Sophomore Mya Brickley (Battle Creek, Mich./Delton Kellogg) entered the game as a pinch runner and was quickly moved into scoring position when senior Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) singled through the left side. This brought up junior outfielder Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) who took advantage of the opportunity to take the lead and singled to left center to tack on two runs for the Knights.
 
In the bottom of the inning, despite Mount Union having a runner in scoring position, the KNights defense, led my junior pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) held strong and picked up the 5-3 victory.
 
Pepin led the way for the Knights with three RBIs while Sweetland and Dole each recorded two hits. In the circle, Hunderman finished her showing with three strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 5, CARTHAGE 2
 
In the second game, the Firebirds of Carthage struck first when they pushed a run across the plate in the top of the second inning. Calvin didn't wait long to respond as Dole led off the bottom of the inning and forced the Firebirds defense to make an error. One batter later Sanborn doubled to right center to bring in Dole and tie things up at 1-1.
 
Calvin added another run in the bottom of the third inning when Sweetland singled through the left side to score Frias and give the Knights the lead. The next scoring opportunity came for Calvin in the bottom of the fifth when a sacrifice bunt from senior Emma Walker () moved pinch runner Brickley into scoring position. Two batters later, sophomore shortstop Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) knocked a single to center field to bring in the runner and extend the lead. 
 
Up next, Sweetland stepped into the batter's box and stayed hot as she hit an RBI double to left field. Calvin rounded out their scoring a few plays later when Sweetland took advantage of a wild pitch and stole home.
 
Carthage was able to push a run across the plate in the top of the seventh and threatened to add more as they loaded the bases with zero outs. However, Hunderman entered the game and quickly retired the sign to pick up the save and give the Knights the 5-2 victory.
 
Sweetland led the way for the Knights offensively as she had two hits and two RBIs. In the circle, junior Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) before being relieved by senior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) in the fifth.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "I am happy we competed against a tough Mount Union team," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Getting on the board early was huge, and defensively, we made a few big plays at the end to pull it out. Offensively, against Carthage, I was happy that we were able to score with two outs on a few occasions and get out of a few baseloaded situations. Quick turnaround tomorrow to finish the trip against more top opponents."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow as they round out their spring break trip against Coe College at 11 AM and Bowdoin College at 12:15 PM