CLERMONT, FL - Today the Calvin softball team rounded out its time in Florida by going 1-1 with a loss to Simpson and an extra-innings win over Wisconsin-Stout.
 
GAME ONE
SIMPSON 4, Calvin 2
 
In the first game of the day Calvin took on the Storm of Simpson College where senior Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) got the start in the circle. The Storm got on the board first when they pushed a run across the plate in the top of the first inning to give Simpson the early lead.
 
The Knights saw an opportunity in the bottom of the second inning when they loaded the bases with no outs however, the Simpson defense came up big and retired the sign before Calvin could respond.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, senior Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) gave the Knights a spark when she hit a lead off double. Up next, junior Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) stepped up and sent a bomb over the right center fence for a two-run home run as the Knights took their first lead of the game.
 
Despite falling behind, the Storm refused to back down as they found an answer in the top of the fifth inning when a double with two runners in scoring position flipped the momentum back to Simpson as they took a 3-2 lead over Calvin.
 
Simpson added one more insurance run in the top of the sixth and locked in defensively as the Knights were unable to get anything rolling offensively and Calvin fell 4-2.
 
Hunderman went all seven innings for the Knights where she recorded eight strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 7, WIS-STOUT 6
 
The Knights turned their attention to the Blue Devils of Wisconsin-Stout in game two where a lead off bunt from freshman Bella Duimstra (Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian) got Calvin rolling in the top of the first. Audrey Ford (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) followed that up with a single of her own before Dole sent the ball back up the middle to score both runs and give the Knights a quick 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Calvin created another scoring opportunity when Kendall Jordan (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) and Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) hit back-to-back singles to put two runners on base. Duimstra took advantage of the opportunity two batters later when she notched her second hit of the game to score both runs and stretch Calvin's lead to 4-0. 
 
Looking to respond, the Blue Devils rallied in the bottom of the inning and pushed three runs across the plate to make the score 4-3. The Knights scored again in the top of the fifth when Decker singled up the middle to score Sweetland however, Wisconsin-Stout bit back in the bottom of the fifth with two runs and just like that the game was tied 5-5.
 
After the next two innings passed scoreless the game headed into a tie breaker with Decker being placed on second to start the top of the eighth inning. Herder laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Decker to third before senior pinch hitter Alanna Garcia (Holt, Mich./Holt) cashed in the scoring opportunity with a single up the middle. With momentum on their side, the Knights were not satisfied with just one run as two plays later Duimstra, who had re-entered the game to run for Garcia, stole home and gave Calvin the 7-5 lead. 
 
The Blue Devil tried to respond in the bottom of the eighth and managed to get one runner across the plate. However, the Knights defense stood strong and Calvin walked away with the 7-6 victory.
 
Senior Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) started in the circle for the Knights where she went 3.2 innings and recorded four strikeouts. Freshman Camila Rameriez-Quijada (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka) also saw some time in the circle before Hunderman entered to close the game out.
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Friday, March 20th when they welcome Anderson for their home opener. Game one is set for 3 PM with game two following at 5 PM.