OLIVET, Mich. – The Calvin University baseball team won 11-4 at The University of Olivet on Friday to win the weekend series against the Comets 2-1.
The starting pitchers weaved their way in out and of trouble in the early innings but kept the game scoreless until the top of the fifth inning when
Ryan Schummer's (West Lafayette, Ind./Central Catholic) ground out to second base scored
Ryan Brown (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia) to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
After starting pitcher
Evan Steinbacher (Sparta, Mich./Sparta) pitched another scoreless fifth inning, Calvin (9-10, 2-1 MIAA) broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. Brown started the scoring in the sixth with a two-run single and then scored on a two-run double from Schummer.
Nate Mason (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern) finished the sixth with an RBI-single of his own to plate Schummer and give the Knights a 6-0 lead.
Steinbacher ran into trouble in the sixth inning as Olivet (5-15, 1-2 MIAA) loaded the bases, but
Cam Seth (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian/GRCC) was able to limit the damage to three runs and keep the Knights in front 6-3.
After a scoreless seventh inning for both teams, the Knights erupted for five more runs in the eighth inning to put the game away. Consecutive RBI-doubles from Schummer,
Ryan Tschirhart (Clinton, Mich./Clinton) and Mason plated the first three runs, and
Matt Reynolds (Hopkins, Mich./Hopkins) and
Noah Swope (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) drove in the other two runs to help finish the scoring.
Steinbacher (2-0) earned the win after pitching the first 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five. Seth pitched the final 3.1 innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out four.
Schummer led the Knights at the plate with three hits (including two doubles) and four runs batted in. Brown finished with four hits, two runs and two RBI. Mason added two hits and two RBI.
NEXT UP: Calvin baseball will return to action on Wednesday, April 2, when it hosts Alma College for a single game scheduled to start at 4:00 PM.