GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin softball team played their second MIAA doubleheader in two days when they welcomed the Thunder of Trine University and ultimately dropped both games. After today the Knights fell to a 15-11 overall record and a 3-3 MIAA record while Trine improved to 20-4 overall and 4-0 in the MIAA.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 1, TRINE 2
 
In the first game of the day the Thunder got things rolling early as they strung together enough hits to push a run across the plate and take the lead. However, junior pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) showed poise early on as she came up big with a big strikeout to get the Knights out of the inning with two runners in scoring position.
 
In the second inning the Thunder scored a single run before Hunderman stepped up and retired two batters to once again retire the sign, forcing Trine to leave two runs stranded in scoring position. The Calvin defense continued to shine in the third inning when senior left fielder Kennedi Pepin (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais) caught a fly ball and proceeded to make a perfect throw home to catcher Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) who tagged the runner at the plate to double up the Thunder.
 
With the Thunder still leading 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth Calvin found a spark offensively when shortstop Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) got on base with an infield single. Up next, second baseman Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) took advantage of the opportunity as she laced a line drive to right center and allowed Herder to make it all the way home to make the score 1-2.
 
After Hunderman polished off the Trine hitter in the top of the seventh the Knights headed into the bottom of the inning in a do-or-die situation. However, Calvin was unable to get anything going and ultimately fell to the Thunder 1-2.
 
Despite giving up two runs, Hunderman recorded seven strikeouts in her seven-inning showing.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 4, TRINE 6
 
In the second game of the day, it was the Knights who drew first blood when senior Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) sent a single back up the middle to give Calvin a baserunner in the second inning. She advanced to second on a ground ball before showing off her speed when Herder singled to right field and Gaastra crossed the plate to give Calvin the lead.
 
However, the Thunder didn't wait long to respond as they scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to even the score at 1-1. After that the two teams found themselves locked in a pitching battle as junior Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Martin) worked hard to keep the Thunder hitters off balance and out of rhythm. 
 
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning that the Thunder posed a threat when they got two runners on base. At this point, the Knights went to their bullpen and brought in senior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) who quickly picked up the final out and get the Knights out of the inning with no damage done.
 
Trine kept the pressure on Calvin in the bottom of the seventh when they once again got runners on base. This time, the Thunder took advantage of the scoring opportunity as they came alive to score five runs and take a late lead.
 
In the top of the seventh the Knights showed some life as junior Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) hit a leadoff single to right field. After advancing on a ground ball, Dole was brought home when Decker sent the ball back up the middle to make the score 2-6. Pepin kept things rolling when she doubled over the center fielders head to put two runners in scoring position for the Knights.
 
Up next, Gaastra stepped up and came up with a clutch single up the middle to score both runs and cut the Calvin deficit to two. However, that's as close as the Knights would come as the Thunder defense recorded the final out and Calvin fell 4-6 to Trine.
 
Gaastra led the Knights with two hits and two RBIs while Decker recorded two hits and one RBI. Ludema finished with one strikeout. 
  
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Wednesday, April 16th when they travel to Albion to take on the Brits at 3PM and 5PM.