ADRIAN, Mich. - Today the Calvin softball team hit the road to take on the Bulldogs of Adrian College in a MIAA conference doubleheader. After a wild comeback in game one and a commanding victory in game two the Knights improved to a 24-10 overall record and a 10-2 MIAA record. It also marked the first time since 2021 Calvin had swept Adrian on the road in a doubleheader.
 
GAME ONE
CALVIN 6, ADRIAN 1
 
In the first game of the day the Knights quickly found themselves locked in a defensive battle as runs proved to be hard to come by for both teams. In the circle, senior Brooke Hunderman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian) kept the Bulldog hitter off balance until the bottom of the third when Adrian was able to push the first run of the game across the plate.
 
Throughout the game Calvin struggled to get things rolling offensively and eventually headed into the top of the seventh inning trailing 1-0. Now, with their backs against the walk, junior Aubrey Herder (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) provided a spark when she led off with a single up the middle. Herder went on to steal second before advancing to third on a ground ball. This brought up freshman Audrey Ford (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan) who delivered under pressure when she doubled to right field to bring in Herder and tie the game at 1-1.
 
Senior Carly Dole (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant) took her free base when she was hit by a pitch with brought up junior Natalie Bush (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian). After watching three pitches go by, Bush found one she liked and sent a rocket over the left field fence for a three-run home run and gave Calvin its first lead of the game at the most crucial time.
 
Freshman Kendall Jordan (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) kept the momentum building as she followed with a double to left center before senior Tory Decker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) hit a home run of her own over the left field wall to score two runs and stretch Calvin's lead to 6-1.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bulldogs tried to fight back when they got the lead runner on base but a strikeout from Hunderman and two plays from the Knights defense brought Adrian to a halt and Calvin walked away with the game one win.
 
Hunderman finished the game with ten strikeouts while only giving up four hits while Decker and Jordan each recorded two hits. 
 
GAME TWO
CALVIN 7, ADRIAN 0
 
In the second game of the day, it was the Knights who drew first blood when sophomore Valeria Frias (Wyoming, Mich./Potters House) led off the bottom of the third inning with a double to right center before being replaced by pinch runner Mya Brickley (Battle Creek, Mich./Delton Kellogg). Two batters later, after taking advantage of a Bulldogs defensive error and a ground ball to the right side of the field Brickley crossed the plate to give Calvin the 1-0 lead.
 
The Knights next scoring opportunity came in the fourth inning when they found a way to load the bases with just one out. A walk from Brickley allowed the first run of the inning to cross the plate before a single from Herder paired with a Bulldogs defensive error allowed two more runs to come home.
 
Calvin showed no signs of slowing down as freshman Bella Duimstra (Jenison, Mich./Unity Christian) and Ford recorded back-to-back RBI singles before a sacrifice fly from Dole increased the Knights lead to 7-0.
 
The Knights defense held strong behind senior pitcher Emma Ludema (Martin, Mich./Wayland) as they kept the Bulldogs off the base path and picked up their second win of the day. Ludema finished the game with five strikeouts while Duimstra and Jordan both recorded two hits apiece.

NOTES: Jordan has now hit safely in 12 of her last 13 games and is 22-for-43 (.512).

COACHES COMMENTS: "Two really great wins for us at a very tough place to play," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Adrian is a solid squad and that first game was quite the pitching and defensive battle. We didn't give up and when you pass the bat good things happen and we got our speed on base in the 7th and we're able to capitalize in a big moment to tie and then take the lead. Brooke and Emma both were stellar in the circle and our defensive played solid behind them."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Saturday, April 25th when they travel to Angola, Indiana to take on the Thunder of Trine University at 1 PM and 3 PM.