CSR (Softball Splits with Alma)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 14, 2005

SOFTBALL
(Story written by Abby Zylstra '08)

Calvin defeated nationally-ranked Alma in a double-header on Thursday
afternoon. Calvin and Alma, both undefeated in the MIAA, split the
results. Alma defeated Calvin 2-0 in the first game and came back to
win 2-1 in the second game. Both teams have only one league defeat. Calvin
is now 15-9 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA, and Alma is 19-7 overall and 9-1 in
the MIAA.

Ranked 20th in the latest NFCA Division III Top 25 poll Alma defeated Calvin,
2-0, in the first game of the double-header. Alma scored in the top of the
third inning. Junior Audra Reynolds struck out to start the inning. Senior
Mary Pietsch ground out to third base. Junior Anne Westerman tripled out to
center field. Junior Megan Knochel tripled out to right center, scoring
Reynolds. Junior Laura Bell flied out to right field to close the inning.

Alma scored again in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Megan Colligan
struck out. Freshman Amy Gaudard singled to the left side, and junior
Andrea Lunsted came in to pinch run for Gaudard. Lunsted advanced to second
on a passed ball. Freshman Andrea Harrington doubled to left center and scored
Lunsted. Senior Eileen Butler struck out, Reynolds walked, and sophomore Lisa
Cook struck out for the third out of the inning.

In the first game, the Knights had no runs, seven hits, and one error.
Alma finished with two runs, six hits, and one error. Senior Leigh Ann
LaFave, 8-2, was the winning pitcher for Alma and Ruth Anna Spooner
(Twin Falls, ID/Idaho School for the Deaf), 5-1, took the loss for the
Knights.

In the second game, the score remained scoreless until the fourth inning.
Senior Angie Sietsema (Grandville/Grandville) started off for the
Knights and singled to third base. She advanced to second on a wild
pitch. Senior Bridget O'Malley (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly) struck out
swinging. Senior Abby Konyndyk (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) popped a
fly ball to the shortstop. Senior Rachelle Heyboer
(Fremont/Fremont) doubled to left field, and Sietsema scored.
Sophomore Andrea Wagner (Jenison/Unity Christian) singled to shortstop and
Heyboer advanced to third. Junior Laurel Sands (Rockford/Rockford) singled to
shortstop, advancing Wagner and scoring Heyboer. Sands and Wagner advanced to
second and third respectively on a wild pitch. Senior Lea Bareman
(Hudsonville/Unity Christian) struck out looking to finish the inning.

Alma tried to come back in the bottom of the sixth inning but couldn't
pull it off. Westerman walked. Knochel flied out to center field.
Bell doubled down the right field line, and Westerman scored.
Sophomore Angi Asam came in to run for Bell. Colligan flied out to
center field, and Asam advanced to third. Gaudard grounded out to the pitcher
to close the inning.

In the second game, the Knights had two runs, eight hits, and no errors.

Alma finished with one run, four hits, and two errors. Senior Kara Van
Kooten (Anchorage, AK/Grace Christian School), 6-5, earned the win for the
Knights, and senior Melissa Tavidian, 9-4, took the loss for Alma.

"It's great. It's nice to see the pitchers work so hard and do so
well.
 This puts us in a good position." said head coach Deb Bakker. "We're
taking tomorrow off to rest our bodies and come back fresh on Saturday. We
have to keep this up and win two games on Saturday."

The Knights return to action on Saturday in a key double-header against
Olivet.

MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-14-05

Alma 7-1
Calvin 5-1
Hope 8-2
Olivet 6-2
Tri-State 6-4
Albion 3-5
Adrian 3-7
Kalamazoo 0-6
St. Mary's 0-10

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Apr 14 22:34:07 2005