BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Today the Calvin softball team wrapped up its weekend trip to Bloomington, Illinois where it fell to Wisconsin Oshkosh in game one before bouncing back to defeat Wartburg in game two. With today's split the Knights moved to an overall record of 12-8.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 5, WISCONSIN OSHKOSH 13
 
In the first game of the day, the Titans of Wisconsin Oshkosh got out to a hot start when they scored a whopping seven runs in the second inning. The Knights looked to punch back in the third inning when freshman Audrey Ford (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) forced a walk to give Calvin a baserunner. Up next, fellow freshman Bella Duimstra (Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian) singled through the right side of the infield before senior Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) brought both runners home on a single through the left side to make the score 2-7.
 
The Titans tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning while Calvin answered in the top of the fourth when sophomore pinch runner Emily Cole (Canton, Mich./Canton) stole home. In the bottom of the fourth inning Wis.-Oshkosh kept their foot on the gas when they scored four more runs to increase their lead over the Knights to 12-3.
 
Junior Emily Sweetland (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline) tried to give Calvin a boost when she ripped a two-run home run over the center field fence in the top of the fifth inning. However, the Titans did not waver as they scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Knights 13-5.
 
Senior Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) started the game in the circle for the Knights where she pitched 1.2 innings and recorded two strikeouts. Sophomore Cailin Knoop (Reed City, Mich./Big Rapids) went 1.1 innings and notched two strikeouts while the freshman duo of Camila Rameriez-Quijada (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka) and Ally Coffey (Zilwaukee, Mich./Michigan Lutheran Seminary) each saw time in the circle.
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 6, WARTBURG 4
 
In game two Calvin turned its attention to Wartburg in what would be the clash of the Knights. Wartburg got on the board first when it pushed two runs across the plate in the top of the first inning. In the second inning, Calvin looked to respond in the when freshman Kendall Jordan (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) got on base with a double to right center. Two batters later, senior Alanna Garcia (Holt, Mich./Holt) cashed in on the opportunity when she recorded an RBI when she brought home Jordan to cut the lead down to one.
 
Wartburg added another run in the top of the third before Calvin took advantage of back-to-back Wartburg defensive errors to score three runs and take their first lead of the game. However, Wartburg bounced back in the top of the fifth inning and scored one run to tie the score at 4-4. 
 
The teams remained neck and neck until Calvin saw an opportunity when freshman Bella Duimstra (Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian) led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk. Now, with one runner on base, Dole stepped into the batter's box and became a hero when she hit a walk off two-run home run over the right field fence and Calvin claimed the 6-4 victory. 
 
Senior Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) went all seven innings in the circle for Calvin where she recorded an impressive twelve strikeouts.

COACHES COMMENTS: "It was great to pull out the win versus a very good Wartburg team," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "It is always great to see your seniors step up in big moments and produce. This weekend certainly tested us in all facets of the game against some top opponents. At the halfway mark of the season we still have many things to tighten up offensively, defensively and in the circle but I feel this non conference schedule has prepared us well to turn our attention to the gauntlet that is MIAA conference play. All our goals are still ahead of us and we will continue to grow and get better as a group."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Wednesday, April 1st when they travel to Berea, Ohio to take on Baldwin Wallace at 3 PM and 5 PM.