ADA, Ohio - Today the Calvin softball team traveled to take on the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern for a non-conference matchup where they went 1-1 After today's games Calvin moved to a 19-11 overall record while Ohio Northern moved to 15-17.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 7, ONU 2
 
In game one the Knights got things rolling early as senior catcher Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) knocked a double to bring in two runs and give Calvin the lead in the first inning. On the next play, Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) took advantage of a fielder's choice play by the Polar Bear defense and crossed the plate to extend the Calvin lead.
 
The Knights tacked on another run on the top of the second when Mya Brickley (Battle Creek, Mich./Delton Kellogg) hit a lead-off double before quickly being brought home on a single back of the middle by Lily Gaastra (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian).
 
The next few innings were quiet as pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) and the Calvin defense kept the scoring opportunities for Ohio Northern to a minimum. In the top of the sixth inning, Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) kept the momentum on Calvin's side when she homered to make the score 5-0. Later in the inning, the Knights capped off their scoring when Decker and Brickley each recorded an RBI.
 
The Polar Bears tried to bounce back in the bottom of the inning when they scored two runs but that was as close as they would get as Calvin walked away with the 7-2 victory.
 
Decker and Sanborn each finished with two RBIs while Hunderman recorded seven strikeouts in the circle. Senior pitcher Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) entered the game in relief in the seventh inning where she gave up zero hits.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 12, ONU 14
 
In the second game the Knights once again struck first when Dole doubled to right field to score shortstop Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) in the top of the first inning. However, Ohio Northern came alive with energy when they scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning before tacking on another five in the bottom of the third.
 
Having lots of ground to make up, the Calvin offense went to work in the top of the fifth as Herder knocked an RBI to right field to Gaastra from third. This gave the Knights a spark as Sweetland, Dole, and Decker all followed with RBIs of their own to cut the Polar Bear lead to 10-6.
 
Ohio Northern responded quickly as they added three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to stretch the lead once more. In the sixth inning, Calvin tacked on three runs while Ohio Northern added one and the Knights went into the final inning of the game trailing 8-14.
 
Now, in a do-or-die situation Calvin looked to rally as a double by Sanbon and a walk from Decker gave the Knights quick baserunners. Both runners moved into scoring position as senior Kennedi Pepin (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais) singled before Brickely stepped up and cashed in on both runs of a single to left center. Two batters later, freshman Lauren Wright (Dorr, Mich./Wayland) picked up an infield RBI as she beat out the throw from the shortstop and kept the Knights rolling.
 
Up next, with a runner in scoring position, Herder took advantage of the opportunity and singled up the middle to cut the Polar Bear lead down to two. However, that's as close as the Knights would get as the Polar Bear defense locked in to record the final out and take down Calvin 14-12.
 
Sweetland led the way with three RBIs while Herder and Dole each recorded two. Junior pitcher Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Martin) started in the circle for the Knights while Cailin Knoop (Reed City, Mich./Big Rapids), Hazelhoff, and Hunderman all made appearances throughout the game.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Saturday, April 26th when they travel to South Bend, Ind. to take on the Belles of Saint Mary's. Game one will start at 1PM with game two following at 3PM.