CLERMONT, FL - After getting a day of rest yesterday the Knights continued their spring trip when they defeated Alfred in the morning and Hiram in the afternoon.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 6, ALFRED 0
 
In the first game of the day the Knights looked to take on Alfred University where the Saxons threatened first when they got a runner on in the top of the first. Up next, a base hit sent a Saxon runner towards the plate where she was met with an on-target throw from junior left fielder Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) to senior catcher Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) who put on the tag before any damage was done.
 
The next three innings passed scoreless until freshman Kendall Jordan (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field. A sacrifice bunt from Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) moved Jordan into scoring position before a ground ball moved her to third base. Fellow freshman Bella Duimstra (Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian) took her base when she was hit by a pitch and immediately caused chaos when she got in a pickle to distract the defense and allowed Jordan to cross the plate. Back-to-back singles from freshman Audrey Ford (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) and senior Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) gave Calvin two more runs before a double by Bush scored Dole to make the score 4-0.
 
Junior Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) scored in the bottom of the fifth inning on fielder choice while Ford capped off the scoring for Calvin in the bottom of the sixth when she stole home plate.
 
Senior Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) picked up the win in the circle where she went all seven innings and recorded nine strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 11, HIRAM 1
 
The Knights turned their attention to Hiram in game two where they drew first blood when Sweetland led off the top of the second inning with a single through the left side. Junior Mya Brickley (Battle Creek, Mich./Delton Kellogg) stepped up and delivered a single of her own before a walk from junior Roan Stanifer (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) loaded the bases for Calvin.
 
The first two runs of the game came off a double from Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) before the Knights added another when Ford singled to score Stanifer. Two batters later, Bush sent the ball back up the middle to bring home two more Calvin base runners and make the score 5-0.
 
Hiram responded with a run of their own before the next several innings passed scoreless for both sides. It wasn't until the top of the fifth when Calvin got rolling again when Sweetland tripled to score pinch runner Reese Veltman (Wayland, Mich./Wayland). This opened up the flood gates for the Knights as they went on to score five more runs that inning with Jordan and freshman Olivia Herlin (Three Rivers, Mich./Constantine) each recording one RBI while freshman Addie Edwards (Midland, Mich./Midland) recorded two.
 
Senior pitcher Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) and the rest of the Calvin defense took care of business in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Knights walked away with the 11-1 victory. Ludema went all five innings for Calvin and recorded four strikeouts.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Really happy to pick up two more quality wins" said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Our defense played error free in both games which continues to be a huge factor in our success the last few days. Both Brooke and Emma executed well and kept the opposing hitters off balance. Offensively we are starting to be a little more productive in our at bats, hitting the ball hard on the ground or through the infield, and moving runners with the bunt in certain situations. We are ready to face two more tough opponents tomorrow to finish out our trip."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow Saturday, March 14th when they round out their spring trip against Simpson College at 12:15 PM and University of Wisconsin-Stout at 2:30 PM.