From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Mon Mar 31 2003 - 22:00:24 EST
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 31, 2003
BASEBALL
ALBION * Calvin stole a victory and let one slip away Monday afternoon as the Knights split an MIAA doubleheader with Albion. In the opener, Calvin overcame a 9-6 deficit with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to claim a 10-9 come-from-behind victory. In game two, Calvin saw a 4-2 lead vanish as the host Britons rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 5-4 win.
Calvin ended up winning two of the three games in the series with all three games decided by one run. On Saturday, Calvin captured a 4-3 decision in 11 innings behind a complete-game pitching performance from sophomore Jim Deters (Kalamazoo Christian HS).
In Monday's opener, Calvin jumped out to a 4-1 lead on the strength of a three-run homer by junior Darrell Heuker (Unity Christian HS) in the first inning. Albion () answered with a run in the bottom of the first and then exploded for five runs in the third to take a 6-4 lead. Heuker then cranked his second home run of the game * this a solo blast * to cut the score to 6-5 in the fourth but Albion bounced back with three runs in the fifth to build a 9-5 lead. Junior Bryce Weston (Petoskey HS) drove in Calvin's sixth run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, setting up a dramatic finish.
In the top of the seventh, junior Terry O'Neal (Muskegon Reeths-Puffer HS) was hit by a pitch and sophomore Josh Vriesman (Denver, CO) followed with a two-run homer to left to make a one-run game. Calvin then loaded the bases with two outs after senior Arie Eppinga (Walnut Creek, CA) and Heuker came up with singles and freshman Tyler VanEps (Denver, CO) was hit by a pitch. Weston then reached base on an infield error that brought home the tying run. Freshman Kyle Hollemans (East Kentwood HS) followed with a pinch-hit single that scored Heuker from third with the go-ahead run.
Freshman Ben Buikema (Lakewood-Lake Odessa HS) then came on in the seventh to retire the Britons in order to record his first collegiate save. Junior Dean Thompson (Ogemaw Heights HS) picked up the victory in relief to run his record to 1-2. Thompson came on in the third in relief of freshman Jory Trim (Grand Rapids Creston HS).
In game two, Calvin jumped out to another early lead, scoring four runs in the first with Heuker blasting another three-run homer. Eppinga brought in Calvin's first run with a single that delivered Vriesman from second base. Vriesman had reached base on a double.
Albion chipped away into the Calvin lead, scoring a run in the second and a run in the third. Freshman Brandon Oldenbroek (Unity Christian HS) held a 4-2 lead however before departing after the fifth inning. In the sixth, Albion freshman Mike Pisha greeted Calvin freshman reliever Kory Ciecielski with a lead-off homerun that brought the Brits within a run. Albion then used a walk, a single and a sacrifice bunt to place runners on second and third with one out. A bunt attempt was fouled out to Heuker at catcher for out number two but Albion's Pete Grostic followed with a pinch-hit double into the right-center gap to score two, giving the Britons a 5-4 lead. Buikema then came on in relief to gain the final out.
In the seventh, Calvin VanEps led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by O'Neal and then to third on a groundout. VanEps was stranded at third base however on a game-ending groundout.
Ciecielski took the loss to fall to 0-2 in relief. Oldenbroek allowed two hits in five innings of work. Calvin outhit Albion 7-5 with Eppinga collecting two hits.
Eppinga finished the afternoon with three hits but Heuker was the offensive story for the Knights as he went 4-for-7 with 7 RBI's, three runs scored and three home runs. Heuker's three-homer performance marked the first three home runs of his collegiate career.
Calvin returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Grand Valley State in a non-conference game at 3:00 p.m. There will be no internet broadcast of the game.
Calvin returns to MIAA action on Friday when it opens up a three-game weekend series at Hope with a single nine-inning game scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
MIAA MEN'S BASEBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 3-31-03
Adrian 3-0
Hope 2-0
Calvin 2-1
Albion 1-2
Kalamazoo 0-0
Alma 0-2
Olivet 0-3
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