CKSR (Softball Win Streak Snapped With Doubleheader Defeat Against Hope)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 19, 2012

Softball Win Streak Snapped With Doubleheader Defeat Against Hope

SOFTBALL
Hope 11, Calvin 3
Hope 9 Calvin 6

By Mark DeHaan

On a six-game win streak, the Knights looked to continue their strong defense
against the rival Dutch of Hope College. Calvin’s win streak came to an end
however as the Knights were swept by Hope by scores of 11-3 and 9-6.
 
The first game started out as grim as the overcast weather. The Flying Dutch
offense led off with a double. That runner was brought in on a base hit before
a two-run home run during the next at-bat brought the score to 3-0 Hope.
Moments later, with two more on base, another home run brought the score to 6-0
before Calvin had recorded an out. A pitching change brought freshman Trista
Brownlee (Saginaw/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) to the circle, and the Knights
made their way out of the inning without giving up any additional runs.

The Flying Dutch added an insurance run in the top of the second to push their
advantage to 7-0.
Calvin responded with a run of its own as junior Hannah DeWeerd (Grand
Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) continued her strong hitting with a home run
to the left field in the bottom of the second.

In the bottom of the third, another home run by Calvin, this one a two-run
shot by senior Marie Prins (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS), closed the deficit
to 7-3.

Over the next two innings, Hope plated four more runs and shut down the
Knights to earn the 11-3 mercy rule win after five innings.

The Knights totaled six hits in game one, two each from freshmen Christie
VanderMeer (Grandville/Grandville HS) and Merin Cok (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids
Christian HS). Prins was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.

Hope junior Jess Kohloff pitched all five innings for the Flying Dutch while
going 2-for-3 from the plate with four RBI.

In game number two, a pair of runs in the bottom of the first gave the Flying
Dutch an early 2-0. The Knights responded with a run as a leadoff triple by
freshman Catherine Hilbrands (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) set up a
RBI single by freshman Nicole Weener (Zeeland/Holland Christian HS).

After two scoreless innings, Calvin took its first lead of the doubleheader as
a Prins single brought in a run. The Knights then loaded the bases, and a
base-clearing double by DeWeerd brought in three more runs to give Calvin the
5-2 lead.

But, Hope responded with seven runs over the next two innings, five in the
bottom of the sixth, to claim the second game of the doubleheader 9-6 and earn
the sweep. The pair of losses drops the Knights to 3-6 in MIAA play and 11-17
overall. Hope is now 6-6 in conference and 14-16 overall.

Calvin outhit the Flying Dutch 10-9, but errors on the part of the Knights
allowed the Dutch to make the most of their opportunities, scoring three
unearned runs. DeWeerd and Prins went 2-for-4 for Calvin, with DeWeerd adding
three RBI and Prins chipping in one RBI and a run scored.

Hope's Brooke Nienhuis went 3-for-4 for the the Flying Dutch, scoring three
runs and adding two RBI while Emma Page was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run
scored.

“Game one we came out a little flat, game two we came out and were ready to
play, we played better, we just couldn't put the final hammer down,” said Head
Coach Sharon DeKleine.

Calvin's next game comes against MIAA leader and nationally ranked Trine on
Saturday, with the first game slated to start at 1:00 pm.

MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-19-12 GAMES

Trine 9-1
Alma 9-3
Adrian 9-5
Saint Mary's 7-5
Hope 6-6
Albion 4-6
Calvin 4-6
Olivet 3-9
Kalamazoo 1-11
Received on Thu Apr 19 22:36:09 2012