From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Thu Mar 27 2003 - 23:29:15 EST
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2003
SOFTBALL
With the wind blowing directly out to centerfield, Thursday's non-conference
doubleheader between Calvin and Aquinas had all the makings of an offensive
display.
The twinbill turned out to be just that as the two teams combined for 49 hits
and 39 runs Thursday afternoon.
Host Aquinas (12-7) captured the first game 16-11 with Calvin (8-4) coming back
to take game two 8-4.
In the opener, Calvin jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of
the first with sophomore Lea Bareman (Unity Christian HS) collecting a two-run
RBI double in the frame. Aquinas answered with two runs in the bottom of the
first to close to within one with the Knights then taking a 5-2 lead with a
pair of runs in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth, Aquinas used three walks, three hits and a Calvin
error to score five times to build a 7-5 lead. The Saints added two more in
the fifth on a two-run pinch-hit home run by Erica Emelander to take a 9-5
lead. The lead would be short-lived as Calvin scored five runs in the top of
the sixth on the strength of five hits to take a 10-9 lead. Junior Rachel
Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Christian HS) ripped a two-run RBI single in the rally
with Bareman also collecting an RBI single.
The scoring was far from over however as Aquinas exploded for seven runs in the
bottom of the sixth on five hits and one Calvin error. Trailing 16-10, Calvin
scored a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout by sophomore Sarah
Piersma (Grand Rapids Christian HS) but the Knights would not score again.
Sophomore Kristen Hulst (4-0) picked up the win for Aquinas as she started the
game and then reentered in the sixth after departing after the fifth. Freshman
Jeanne Cole (Mason County Eastern HS) took the loss in relief of freshman
starter Jill Scholten (Holland Christian HS). Cole is now 2-2 on the year.
Randi Blain had three hits to lead Aquinas while Calvin had four player notch
two or more hits in defeat as the Knights outhit the Saints 14-11. Senior
catcher Emily Mejeur (Kalamazoo Christian HS) led the Maroon and Golf with a
4-for-4 performance that included a pair of runs scored. Bareman and seniors
Becky Austen (Pembroke, ON) and Sandy VanLeeuwen (Unity Christian HS) added two
hits apiece.
In game two, sophomore righthander Rachelle Heyboer (Fremont HS) was able to
scatter 11 Aquinas hits to pick up her fourth victory of the year against one
defeat. Calvin gave Heyboer an early six-run cushion as the Knights scored
four times in the top of the first and twice in the second. Dyksterhouse and
Bareman both collected doubles in the first inning with Bareman's two-bagger
driving in two runs. Austen and junior Trisha Balkeman (Highland, IN) also had
RBI singles in the first. Dyksterhouse then added an RBI single in the second
with Balkema driving in Calvin's other run on a groundout.
Balkema drove in another run with an RBI single in the fourth but the Saints
finally broke through in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to make
the score 7-3. Balkema gave the Knights an insurance run with her fourth RBI
of the game, as she delivered a run-scoring single in the seventh. Aquinas
threatened in the bottom of the seventh as it scored a run and had the bases
loaded with one out before Heyboer was able to extinguish the threat on a
pop-up and subsequent groundout to shortstop.
Calvin again held an advantage in hits with 13 in game two while Aquinas had
11. Balkema and Dyksterhouse both collected three hits with Balkema collecting
four RBI's and Dyksterhouse three RBI's. Mejeur was also 3-for-4 at the plate
to complete a career afternoon that saw her go 7-for-8 in the twinbill with
three runs scored and an RBI. Jeanne Cole also had two hits and two runs
scored and added a diving catch of a wind-blown blooper into short leftfield
that saved at least one run.
Heyboer struck out three and walked just one in firing the 19th complete game
of her collegiate career. Lorna Bratton took the loss for Aquinas to fall to
2-1 on the year.
Calvin returns to action on Friday when it opens up play at the two-day
Rose-Hulman Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana. Calvin will open the the
tournament against Franklin (IN) at 2:00 p.m. and will then face host
Rose-Hulman at 6:00 p.m. Both games will be broadcast via RealAudio on the
Calvin web site at: www.Calvin.edu/sports. Calvin will take on Rose-Hulman for
a second game on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and will follow with a Saturday game at
noon against Thomas More of Kentucky. Both Saturday games will also be
broadcast via RealAudio at: www.Calvin.edu/sports.
BASEBALL
Calvin will open up its MIAA schedule Friday afternoon at Albion in a single
nine-inning game scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. A link to a live internet
broadcast of the game courtesy of the Albion sports information department can
be found at: www.Calvin.edu/sports.
Calvin is scheduled to face Albion in a three-game weekend series with a
doubleheader slated to begin on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
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