CSR (Softball Splits with St Mary's/Baseball falls to GVSU/Mtennis falls to Kzoo)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 6, 2004

SOFTBALL

SOUTH BEND, IN * A dramatic pinch-hit walk-off homer by junior Abby Konyndyk allowed the Calvin softball team to gain a split of a conference doubleheader at St. Mary's on Tuesday and allowed the Knights to remain within a half-game of league-leading Alma.

With one out and a runner on in the bottom of the seventh and Calvin trailing 3-2, Konyndyk ripped her third career home run, allowing the Knights to claim the one-run win.

After dropping the opener 5-2, Calvin (10-8 overall, 5-1 MIAA) was on the verge of being swept as the host Belles (11-14 overall, 4-4 MIAA) took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the top of the seventh off of Calvin starter Ruth Anna Spooner (Anchorage, AK). With only two hits to its credit heading into the seventh, Calvin rallied behind a lead-off double from junior Laurel Sands (Rockford HS) and an infied error that allowed senior Rachel Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Chrsitian HS) to reach base and move Sands over to third. Sophomore Kristen Kalb (Stowe, OH) followed by driving in Sands from third with a sacrifice fly to left to bring the Knights to within a run.

Konyndyk was then inserted into the Calvin lineup and the move paid off as the left-handed hitter belted a drive deep and high over the left-field wall.

Spooner (5-1) picked up the win for the Knights as she struck out six batters without a walk while scattering five hits.

In the opener, Calvin out hit St. Mary's 8-6 but wound up on the short end of the scoreboard as the Knights stranded eight base runners. St. Mary's broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and added an insurance marker in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Rachelle Heyboer (Fremont HS) took the loss for the Knights to fall to 2-3 on the year. Junior Kara VanKooten (Anchorage, AK) also threw two innings of relief for Calvin.

Dyksterhouse picked up two of Calvin's eight hits with junior Angie Sietsema (Grandville HS) also picking up a pair of hit with Sands collecting a double * one of two that she had on the afternoon.

Calvin will now prepare for a pivotal doubleheader at fourth-ranked Alma Thursday with game one slated to start at 3:30 p.m.. The twinbill will be broadcast via RealAudio on the Calvin web site (ww.Calvin.edu/sports) with Ross Weener and Mark Christner calling all of the action.

MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-6 GAMES

Alma 5-0
Calvin 5-1
Hope 3-1
Albion 3-3
St. Mary's 4-4
Olivet 3-5
Kalamazoo 0-4
Adrian 0-5

BASEBALL

Calvin suffered its sixth straight defeat, falling 8-3 to non-conference rival Grand Valley State Tuesday afternoon at Calvin field. Calvin (4-13 overall) held a 2-1 lead through five innings behind the starting pitching of sophomore Jory Trim (Grand Rapids Creston HS). Calvin scored both of its runs in the first inning with sophomore Tyler VanEps (Denver, CO) striking the key blow with an RBI double.

Grand Valley (19-12) broke loose with four runs in the top of the sixth however to chase Trim (0-4) from the mound and break the game open.

Calvin managed to score an additional run in the seventh but the Lakers added three more in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Calvin managed just three hits off the Grand Valley pitching staff with sophomore Tim Stoeffler (Ionia HS) collecting two of the hits. The Knights also reached base on six walks issued by the Laker pitching staff.

Also pitching in relief for Calvin on Tuesday were senior Dean Thompson (Ogemaw Heights HS), sophomore Ben Buikema (Lakewood-Lake Odessa HS) and junior Joel Bont (Calvin Christian HS).

Calvin returns to action on Friday when it faces future MIAA opponent Tri-State University in the opener of a three-game weekend series in Angola, Indiana. Friday's game will begin at 4:00 p.m..

MEN'S TENNIS

Calvin saw its overall record fall to 8-5 and its MIAA mark to 1-2 with an 9-0 loss to visiting Kalamazoo Tuesday afternoon.

Calvin returns to action next Tuesday when it travels to Spring Arbor for a non-conference match scheduled to being at 4:00 p.m..

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue Apr 6 22:27:14 2004