April 27, 2001
BASEBALL
With a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning, Calvin could nearly taste a series-opening victory over the visiting Alma Scots Friday afternoon. Unfortunately for Calvin, Alma left Calvin Field with its belly full while the Knights went home hungry as the Scots pulled out a come-from-behind 5-2 victory with four runs in the top of the ninth.
The loss drops Calvin (17-11 overall, 10-3 MIAA) out of first place in the MIAA standings as Hope improved to 6-1 in the league with a 4-0 win over Kalamazoo Friday. Friday's loss was the third in the last four games for the Knights who had carried a six-game win streak up until that point.
The first eight innings proved to be a pitcher's duel between Alma sophomore Nic Duflo and Calvin junior Mike Ott (Grand Rapids Union). Calvin took a 2-0 lead on a two-run RBI double down the left-field line by senior Dirk Eppinga (Walnut Creek, CA) in the bottom of the fourth. Eppinga's double scored junior Ben Dykhouse (Grand Rapids Christian) who had walked and senior Aaron Wiers (Chicago, IL) who had doubled off the right field fence.
Alma came back with a run in the top of the sixth as Jason Biehl blooped an RBI single down the left-field line to score Sean Turkleson who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Neither team would score until the ninth when the Scots (11-8 overall, 7-3 MIAA) came up with four runs on four hits and a walk with sophomore Steve Slowke providing the go-ahead runs with a two-run RBI double to left.
Calvin put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth but Duflo was able to close out the threat on a fly-out to centerfield.
Duflo (6-2) picked up the win for Alma, scattering six hits while striking out five and walking two while junior Matt Schmitz (Ionia) took the loss for Calvin to fall to 4-2 on the year. Ott threw the first eight innings and allowed just one run and five hits while striking out four and walking none.
Wiers picked up three of Calvin's six hits to raise his MIAA batting average to .500 (19-for-38).
Calvin will close out its series with Alma with a Saturday doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm.
SOFTBALL
Calvin closed out its MIAA campaign with a doubleheader sweep at Olivet, defeating the Comets 9-1 and 7-0. With the sweep, Calvin finishes 4-10 in the MIAA and improves to 14-20 overall.
In the opener, Calvin outhit Olivet 11-5 with seniors Holly DeYoung (Kalamazoo Christian) and Erin Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Christian), junior Susannah Knust (Grandville), sophomore Becky Austen (Pembroke, ON) and freshman Rachel Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Christian) collecting two hits apiece. Calvin scored four runs in the top of the third to take a 5-0 lead and added four more runs in the top of the fourth to roll on to the mercy-rule win.
Junior Jennifer Bowen (Troy) picked up the victory for Calvin as she scattered five hits while striking out two batters and walking none.
In game two, Calvin collected 10 hits with DeYoung, Knust and Erin Dyksterhouse picking up two hits apiece. Calvin broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the top of the second and added two more in the fifth. Sophomore Erin Osgerby (Caledonia) tossed her second consecutive shutout win for the Knights to up her record to 3-6 on the year. Osgerby allowed just three hits in seven innings of work while striking out two and walking one.
Calvin will host Capital University Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Competing in her first-ever heptathlon competition, Calvin sophomore Annie VanderLaan (Grand Rapids Christian) posted a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying score of 4,265 points. The total is the sixth-best score recorded in the grueling seven-event heptathlon competition in Division III women's track and field this spring. VanderLaan finished fourth out of 15 competitors at Hillsdale and was the top finisher among non-Division I athletes.
On Thursday, VanderLaan compiled a four-event total of 2,737 points as she clocked in with a time of 15.34 in the 100 meter hurdles; went 5-1 ¾ in the high jump, threw the shot put 31-0 ½ and ran 26.61 in the 200 meters. Her time in the 200 meters was the second-fastest time among the 15 heptathlon competitors. On Friday, VanderLaan racked up 1,528 points as she went 15-1 ¾ in the long jump; threw the javelin 67-4 ¾; and went 2:24.10 in the 800 meters. Her time in the 800 meters was the third fastest time posted Friday evening.
Freshman Marielle Zylstra (Mendon, MA) also competed in her first-ever heptathlon at the Hillsdale Relays and posted a score of 3,462 points to rank 12th in the field of 15.
Competition at the Hillsdale Relays will continue Friday evening and conclude Saturday afternoon with the bulk of the finals scheduled for Saturday.
-end-
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