CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 14, 2008
Softball Splits at Olivet;
Baseball Splits at Tri-State
SOFTBALL
Olivet 1, Calvin 0
Calvin 3, Olivet 1
OLIVET -- A complete-game pitching gem by junior Kristin Folkerts allowed
Calvin to gain a split of a doubleheader at Olivet on Monday afternoon.
Folkerts scattered five hits in the nightcap in leading Calvin to a 3-1
victory. Folkerts (Grand Rapids Christian HS) also had a stellar pitching
performance in game one but received no run support as the Knights were
defeated 1-0.
In game two, Calvin broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fourth as Folkerts
helped her own cause with an RBI single to center and added another run on an
RBI single by junior Loren Scarbrough (Antioch, IL) one batter later. Folkerts
(7-15) then allowed just one Olivet batter to reach base the rest of the way
with Calvin closing out the game on an infield double play in the top of the
seventh.
Scarbrough picked up two of Calvin's four hits in the game two win while
senior Sam Ehlert (Rockford HS) also had a hit to go with the single by
Folkerts.
In game one, Calvin (8-18 overall, 2-8 MIAA) loaded the bases with one out in
the top of the seventh but could push across the first run of the game as
Olivet got out of the jam on a forceout at the plate and a strikeout. In the
bottom half of the inning, Cassie Bowerman reached base on a one-out double and
then scored on a single by Courtney Praski.
Folkerts struck out four and walked two while allowing six hits in suffering
the game one defeat. Calvin had five hits - all singles with freshman Whisper
Miller (Reed City HS), senior Cori VanKoevering (Unity Christian HS), Ehlert,
sophomore Jennie Heidman (South Christian HS) and Folkerts all collecting hits
in defeat.
Calvin is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Kalamazoo at 3:30 p.m. in
a conference doubleheader at the Gainey Athletic Complex
MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-14-08 GAMES
Alma 8-1
Tri-State 3-1
Saint Mary's 4-2
Hope 5-3
Adrian 6-4
Albion 3-5
Olivet 2-5
Calvin 2-8
Kalamazoo 0-4
BASEBALL
Calvin 8, Tri-State 5
Tri-State 12, Calvin 11 (9 innings)
ANGOLA, IN – Calvin split a conference doubleheader at Tri-State Monday
afternoon, winning the opener 8-5 and then dropping a 12-11 decision in nine
innings. Despite the split, the Knights remain on top of the MIAA standings but
now must prepare for a crucial four-game series with Adrian which sits just a
game-and-a-half behind the Knights. Adrian (8-2 MIAA) must first play at Hope
tomorrow in a doubleheader before opening the four-game series with Calvin on
Wednesday.
In game one of Monday’s doubleheader with Tri-State (10-16 overall, 4-11
MIAA), Calvin (18-3 overall, 10-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 6-2 lead but the host
Thunder scored two unearned runs in the fifth and added another run in the
sixth to creep to within one heading into the seventh. Sophomore Matt Schepel
(Grand Rapids Christian HS) then provided some insurance with a solo homer to
lead off the seventh and a few batters later, senior Alex Marcus (Wilmar, MN)
provided a sacrifice fly to give the Knights an 8-5 lead.
Senior Todd LaForest (Clio) then pitched a scoreless seventh for Calvin to
gain his first save of the season. Calvin finished the game with 12 hits with
junior Jacob Vriesman (Denver, CO), sophomore Kyle Gurzynski (Ludington HS),
Schepel and junior Chris Blacklidge (Comstock Park HS) all posting multi-hit
games. Schepel led the charge by going 3-for-4 at the plate.
Freshman Peter Steiner (Chicago, IL) got the start and picked up the win to
raise his season record to 4-0.
In game two, Calvin again jumped out to a quick lead, scoring five runs in the
top of the first inning with Blacklidge and Marcus belting run-scoring doubles.
Tri-State came alive in the second however, scoring six runs on the strength of
five walks and two Calvin errors. Of the six runs, four were unearned.
Tri-State continued to build its lead and held a 10-7 advantage heading into
the top of the seventh. With one out, Calvin mounted a rally, pulling within
two on a run-scoring single by junior Nate Pocock (Wayland, MA) and then
pulling to within one on a run-scoring double by sophomore Drew Johnson (Boise,
ID). Vriesman then followed with a two-run double down the right field line to
give the Knights an 11-10 advantage.
Calvin then had a chance to steal the come-from-behind win but Tri-State
refused to fold and tied the game on a two-out RBI single, sending the game
into extra-innings.
In the top of the ninth, Calvin mounted a threat, loading the bases with two
outs but failed to score. Tri-State then placed runners on first and second in
the bottom half, using a single and a hit batter. After a failed bunt attempt,
Tri-State then closed out the game on a run-scoring single to right field,
handing Calvin’s its first conference defeat of the year.
LaForest (0-2) took the loss in relief. Freshman Keith Spoelstra (Oakdale, NJ)
started the game before giving way to senior Scott Larsen (Hastings HS) in the
second with freshman Adam VanOpstall (Calvin Christian HS) coming on in the
sixth.
Calvin finished the game with 16 hits with seven different Knights collecting
multi-hit games.
Wednesday’s doubleheader with Adrian is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at
Calvin Field. The two teams will then meet again on Saturday in a doubleheader
at Adrian slated to start at 1:00 p.m.
MIAA BASEBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-14-08 GAMES
Calvin 10-1
Adrian 8-2
Olivet 7-2
Albion 7-8
Alma 3-6
Hope 3-7
Kalamazoo 3-8
Tri-State 4-11
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Mon Apr 14 23:03:42 2008
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