From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Sat May 10 2003 - 19:36:26 EDT
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT (PART TWO) FOR MAY 10, 2003
BASEBALL
KALAMAZOO * The Knights finished the year on a bright note taking two games from Kalamazoo on Saturday afternoon by scores of 13-4 and 3-2. The victories lift Calvin's record to 8-26 overall and 4-14 in the MIAA as the Knights finished in sixth place overall, two games in front of Kalamazoo (3-25 overall, 2-16 MIAA).
In game one Calvin was able to score early and often, jumping to a 9-2 lead after four innings. The Knights put up a five spot in the top of the first inning as they scored five runs on three hits, aided largely by two Hornet errors. Junior Terry O'Neal (Reeths Puffer) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on an error on the Kalamazoo defense. Freshman Tyler VanEps (Denver Christian) also reached on an error and advanced to second on a perfectly-executed double steal as O'Neal scored. Senior Arie Eppinga (Contra Costa Christian) doubled to the gap in left-center, advancing VanEps to third and Darrell Heuker (Unity Christian) cleared the bases with a single to left field, making the score 3-0 in favor of the Knights.
Sophomore Kyle Neher (Midland Dow) walked and a long fly ball advanced Heuker to third base, and then the Knights executed another double steal as Neher took second and Heuker came in to score. The Knights ended the scoring with a double by senior third baseman Matt DeHoek (Grand Rapids Christian) that plated Neher.
The early scoring was enough for freshman Cory Ciesielski (Petoskey) who earned his first collegiate victory. Ciesielski went the distance pitching seven innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. He also walked two and struck out five batters. The Knights went on to score two in the third and fourth innings, while adding four insurance runs in the sixth inning.
The rubber game of the three game set proved to be an exciting matchup. Kalamazoo jumped ahead 2-0 scoring single runs in the third and fourth inning. The Knights would score the equalizing runs in the top of the sixth inning using a clutch one out single by freshman third baseman Kyle Hollemans (East Kentwood) who belted a single that scored both Heuker from third and Neher from second base. The Knight defense would hold in the bottom of the sixth and Calvin went to work in the top of the seventh inning. With one out VanEps walked and took second on a Kalamazoo wild pitch. He advanced to third on a hard grounder to the right side by Eppinga and plated on another wild pitch by Kalamazoo to give Calvin a 3-2 lead it would not relinquish.
Starting pitcher Jory Trim (Creston), who pitched magnificently, was relieved by junior Dean Thompson (Ogemaw Heights) who came on with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. With a runner of first Thompson forced the Kalamazoo batter into a hard grounder to Eppinga at first base, who stepped on the bag and threw over to second to record the game-ending double play.
Trim picked up the victory to improve to 2-5 on the season and Thompson picked up the save in relief.
GAME 1 (Played on 5.09.03)
Kalamazoo 12, Calvin 8
at Calvin
Calvin fell into a tie for last place in the MIAA standings with Kalamazoo as the visiting Hornets recorded a 12-8 victory over the Knights at Calvin Field. Both teams are now 2-14 in the MIAA with a doubleheader on tap for Saturday to square away the final league standings.
In Friday's contest, Kalamazoo (3-23 overall) jumped out to an 8-1 lead and held off a late Calvin comeback charge to secure its first win since April 6 to snap a 17-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Calvin's losing skid was extended to 16 games * the longest in school history.
Kalamazoo scored two runs in the second, two in the third and four in the fifth to build a seven-run lead. Calvin picked up two runs in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by junior Darrell Heuker (Unity Christian HS) and an RBI single by sophomore Kyle Neher (Midland HS). Kalamazoo answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and added two more in the seventh to take a 12-4 lead. Calvin had scored a run in the in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by senior Arie Eppinga (Walnut Creek, CA).
In the eighth, Calvin junior Bryce Weston (Petoskey HS) belted a two-run homer to cut the deficit to six runs. In the ninth, senior Matt DeHoek (Grand Rapids Christian HS) ripped a two-run RBI double to bring the Knights within four. A pickoff at second base ended Calvin's threat however and allowed the Hornets to close out the win.
Kalamazoo collected 14 hits off the Calvin pitching staff while the Knights also committed four errors that led to six unearned runs. Freshman Ben Buikema (Lakewood-Lake Odessa HS) took the loss for Calvin to fall to 1-7 on the year. Calvin picked up eights hits on the afternoon with DeHoek and Neher collecting two hits apiece.
FINAL MIAA BASEBALL STANDINGS
Hope 16-2
Olivet 12-6
Adrian 11-7
Alma 11-7
Albion 7-11
Calvin
Kalamazoo
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