ROCKFORD, Mich. – The Calvin University baseball team defeated Aquinas College 11-9 in 10 innings to earn its second straight win in extra innings on Wednesday.
Calvin (17-11) finished the game with 15 hits and saw four different relievers throw at least one inning of shutout ball to earn the non-conference win over Aquinas (21-21).
The two teams traded runs early with the Knights jumping in front in the first inning on an RBI-single from
Max Hensler (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest/South Suburban College), and then added one more in the third inning on a Hensler sacrifice fly. In the fourth, the Knights scored two runs on singles by
Peyton Ruthven (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) and
Josh Winkle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) to take a 4-1 lead.
The Saints answered with five runs in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 6-4 lead, but Calvin tied the game in the sixth inning on a two-run double from
Aidan Jaworowski (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East).
The score remained tied at 6-6 into the 10th inning thanks to four shutout frames from relievers
Ethan DeBlecourt (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian/Spring Arbor) and
Noah Etnyre (Northville, Mich./Plymouth Christian), and the Calvin bats would heat up once again for five runs in the top half of the 10th inning.
Christian Stevens (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) opened the scoring with an RBI triple, followed by a single from
Brock Savage (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights Stevenson) to drive Stevens in. Savage came around to score the third run on a double steal, and
Hunter Scholma (Allendale, Mich./Allendale) finished the scoring with a two-run single to push the lead to 11-6.
Aquinas rallied to score three runs in the ninth, but
Matt Reynolds (Hopkins, Mich./Hopkins) recorded the final two outs with the bases loaded to finish off the win.
Etnyre (1-0) earned the win after three dominant innings in relief in which he struck out five while allowing only one walk and two hit batters.
Reed Grinstern (Kentwood, Mich./South Christian),
Kyle Koning (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) and DeBlecourt each threw one scoreless inning in relief for the Knights.
Winkle, Jaworowski (all doubles) and Stevens each finished with three hits on the day to lead the Calvin offense. Jaworowski also added three runs scored and two RBI. Winkle stole three bases to go with his three hits.
NEXT UP: Calvin baseball will return to action on Friday, April 18, when it travels to Adrian College for the start of a three-game series. First pitch in Friday's game is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
