GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin softball team welcomed the Bulldogs from Adrian College for their first MIAA matchup of the season. After offensively dominating the first game the Knights fell in game two, going 1-1 on the day and moving to a 13-9 overall record.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 12, ADRIAN 1
 
In the first game of the day the Knights wasted no time showing off their offensive skills as sophomore Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) gave Calvin a base runner when she reached by fielder's choice. Up next, third baseman Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) switch places when she hit a double of her own before senior Taylor Sanborn (Midland, Mich./Midland) smacked the Knights third double in a row to give Calvin a quick 2-0 lead. 
 
After a quiet second inning the Knights showed out in the bottom of the third starting with an RBI single through the left side from Sanborn to score sophomore Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian). Junior right fielder Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) picked up her first RBI of the game when she doubled to left field before senior Kennedi Pepin (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley Bourbonnais) forced a walk to load the bases for the Knights.
 
Up next, senior Emma Walker (Hamilton, Mich./Saugatuck) watched four balls go by to bring in a run before senior Lily Gaasta (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) sent the ball back up the middle to score two runs and extend the Calvin lead to 7-0. 
 
Freshman Valeria Frias (Wyoming, Mich./Potters House) kept things rolling when she sent the ball back up the middle and brought two more runs home. The Knights wrapped up their scoring with an exclamation point when Dole rocked a three-run homer over the left field fence to make the score 12-0.
 
Adrian tried to rally as they pushed one run across the plate in the top of the fourth but that is all junior pitcher Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) would allow as she kept the Bulldogs off the bases and the Knights walked away with the 12-1 victory after five innings. 
 
Dole finished the game with a team high four RBIs while Gaastra, Frias and Sanborn each had two. In the circle, Hunderman went the distance as she recorded seven strikeouts while only giving up five hits.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 3, ADRIAN 4
 
In game two, Adrian looked to bounce back as they pushed one run across the plate in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Two innings later, the Bulldogs continued to find production on offense as they strung together enough hits to add three more runs to their total.
 
In the top of the fourth, Dole gave the Knights a runner when she watched four balls go by and forced a walk. Not long after, Decker stepped into the box and smoked a two-run homer over the left field fence to chop the Adrian lead in half.
 
Calvin's next scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth when Sweetland hit a leadoff single back up the middle. A single from Dole allowed Sweetland to advance into scoring position at third before Decker hit a ground ball to the Bulldogs shortstop who made a heads up play and threw the ball home before Sweetland could touch the plate. Now, with two outs and a runner on third, Pepin came up with a clutch single up the middle to score Dole and bring Calvin within one.
 
After shutting out the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth the Knights headed into the top of the seventh in a do-or-die situation. After the first two Calvin batters were retired by Adrian sophomore pinch hitter Mya Brickley (Battle Creek, Mich./Delton Kellogg) gave the Knights some life when she singled to center field. Unfortunately, the Bulldog defense held strong on the next play and the Knights fell in game two 3-4.
 
Junior Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Martin) started in the circle for the Knights before being relieved by senior Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) in the third. Hazelhoff recorded five strikeouts during her showing.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Wednesday, April 9th when they travel to take on the Hornets of Kalamazoo. Game one will begin at 3PM while game two will begin shortly after at 5PM.