ANGOLA, Ind. - Today the No. 4 seeded Calvin softball kicked off its post-season campaign when it took on the top seeded Trine Thunder in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. 
 
The Thunder wasted no time jumping on the board when they scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a three-run home run over the right field fence. 
 
In the top of the third, senior Emma Walker (Hamilton, Mich./Saugatuck) gave Calvin its first base runner of the game when she singled back up the middle. However, she would eventually be stranded on base when the Thunder defense recorded the final two outs needed to retire the sign.
 
The next few innings went by quietly as both pitchers continued to work to keep the opposing batters off balance. In the circle for the Knights, despite giving up early runs, junior Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) kept the Thunder's scoring chances to a minimum while the Calvin defense made plays behind her.
 
Trine found some life in the bottom of the sixth when it got two runners on base which caused the Knights to bring senior reliever Zoe Hazelhoff (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) into the circle. Hazelhoff and the Calvin defense would do its best to get out of the jam unscathed, but Trine would successfully push one run across the plate to extend its lead.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, junior third baseman Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) beat out an infield single to give Calvin the offensive spark it had been searching for. However, the next two batters were retired by the Thunder defense and Trine picked up the 5-0 win.
 
Hunderman finished the game with five strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will play in their second game of the double elimination tournament tomorrow at 1:30 PM against No. 3 Hope which fell 3-1 to Adrian in a first round game Wednesday afternoon.