CSR (Baseball Loses Two Games to Hope)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2007 (Part One)

BASEBALL
Hope 12, Calvin 1
Hope 6, Calvin 5

HOLLAND—In a Friday afternoon doubleheader that was rescheduled because of
rain on Thursday, Calvin (12-18, 12-10 MIAA) dropped both games to host Hope
College (23-10, 17-5 MIAA).

In game one, Calvin was held to three hits and one run while Hope’s offense
amassed 18 hits and 12 runs. Hope scored its first run in the bottom of the
first inning with three singles. Calvin answered quickly in the top of the
second as it scored one run off consecutive doubles from junior Kyle Fletcher
(Ft. Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran) and sophomore Chris Blacklidge (Comstock
Park/Comstock Park).

The Hope offense continued to rally in the following innings, scoring one run
in the second, two in the third, six in the fifth, and two in the sixth, while
Calvin saw no more hits. The winning pitcher for Hope was Mike Rodgers (6-2)
while Calvin senior Andy Draayer (Denver, CO/Denver Christian) took the loss
(3-3).

Hope scored first in game two by way of a solo homerun in the bottom of the
first. Calvin then took a 4-1 lead with a huge third inning, all runs coming
with two outs. Singles put freshman Kyle Gurzynski (Ludington/Ludington) and
senior Nick Caudle (Grandville/Calvin Christian) on base, and the bases were
loaded as junior Alex Marcus (Willmar, MN/Willmar Sr.) was hit by a pitch. A
third single from freshman Matt Schepel (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian)
drove in two runs. Marcus and Schepel then scored when Fletcher reached on a
Hope error.

Hope tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the third and then took
the lead with one run in the fourth. Calvin managed to tie the game at five in
the fifth inning when Schepel, who was 3-4 in the game, drove in Caudle with a
single.

After a relatively uneventful sixth inning, Calvin had a chance to take the
lead in the top of the seventh. Caudle singled with two outs and then advanced
to second on a wild pitch, and Marcus was granted a walk. Hope failed to field
a Schepel ground ball between first and second base which would’ve loaded the
bases, but instead got the third out as Caudle was caught between third base
and home plate.

Two walks, and error, and a single in the bottom of the seventh gave Hope the
go-ahead run and the 6-5 game.

Hope’s Kurtis DeHorn (2-0) was the winning pitcher, while Calvin sophomore
Nate Pocock (Wayland, MA/Wayland) dropped to 2-4 with the loss though striking
out six batters.

The Knights continue conference play with another twinbill against Hope to
take place at Calvin on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Apr 27 20:52:15 2007