CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 9, 2014
Softball Splits Twinbill/Men's Lacrosse Falls to Albion/Tennis Teams Defeated in Conference Action
SOFTBALL
Olivet 4, Calvin 3
Calvin 5, Olivet 4
OLIVET - The Calvin softball team split a doubleheader at Olivet Wednesday afternoon, dropping the opener 4-3 before coming back to win game two 5-4. Both games featured late-inning comebacks by the winning team.
In game one, Calvin held a 3-1 lead only to see Olivet (15-8 overall, 3-5 MIAA) score three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-3 advantage.
Calvin took an early 1-0 lead on a run-scoring single by senior Lina Avila (Lakewood, CA/Valley Christian HS) that plated junior Christie VanderMeer (Grandville/Grandville HS). Olivet tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first. Calvin then pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth aided by sacrifice bunts by seniors Janelle Agren (Cadillac/Cadillac HS) and Ashley Jakus (Muskegon/Muskegon Reeths-Puffer HS).
In the bottom of the fifth, Olivet scored three runs, using three hits and a pair of Calvin errors to regain the lead.
In the sixth, Calvin appeared poised to tie the game or take the lead as sophomore Lydia Gildea (Gobles/Gobles HS) led off with a triple and sophomore Ashley Riemersma (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) followed with a walk and stolen base. Both runners were stranded however as a popout, strikeout and flyout ended the Calvin threat.
In the seventh, Calvin threatened once again as junior Kelsey Pollock (Greenville/Belding HS) led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by freshman Cassidy Vlot (Chowchilla, CA/Chowchilla HS). Both runners were stranded though as the next three Calvin batters were retired in order, allowing the Comets to claim the win.
Vlot took the loss to fall to 7-4 on the year. She struck out four and walked one. She also had two hits as did Gildea.
In game two, Olivet scored four runs in the first inning but Calvin kept the Comets from adding to their total the rest of the way and kept chipping away at the deficit in the process.
An RBI single by Avila in the first brought home Calvin's first run. Gildea brought home a second run with an RBI double in the fourth that allowed sophomore Alyssa Bryan (Custer/Mason County Eastern HS) to score.
Calvin then broke through for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Avila led off the inning by reaching base on an error and junior Merin Cok (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) followed with a double. Gildea stepped up once again to deliver in the clutch, belting a two-run RBI double to tie the score 4-4. After moving to third on a groundout, Gildea scored on a squeeze bunt by Agren to give the Knights the lead.
In the top of the seventh, senior Caitlin Callow (Muskegon/Muskegon Catholic Central HS) was able to close out the game as the Comets placed a runner aboard with one out but a line drive to Riemersma at short ended in a game-ending double play.
Callow went the distance to improve to 7-3 on the year. Avila and Gildea had two hits apiece in leading Calvin at the plate.
The Knights return to action on Friday, traveling to Adrian to conclude a suspended game that began last week. The game is tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning with Adrian batting. The start of the game resuming on Friday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
In game two, Calvin (14-7 overall, 2-1 MIAA) trailed 4-2 but scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Albion 20, Calvin 6
By Mark DeHaan
Calvin men's lacrosse hosted the Britons of Albion College for an MIAA contest on Wednesday afternoon at Grand Rapids Christian High School.
The Knights struggled offensively and were held scoreless through the first half as Albion built a double digit lead. Calvin could not recover, and visiting Albion earned a 20-6 victory.
The Britons got off to a fast start, scoring four goals early in the first quarter for a 4-0 advantage with 8:25 remaining. Calvin's defense then stepped up for the remainder of the first quarter, shutting out Albion as the scored remained 4-0 at the quarter break.
In the second quarter, two more goals by Albion forced a timeout by the Knights. Despite the stoppage of play, Calvin still couldn't get its offense going, and the Britons scored three more goals as Albion took a 9-0 lead into halftime.
Out of the break, Albion netted a pair of goals to bring the score to 11-0 before the Knights scored their first of the contest.
With 9:11 remaining in the third, Calvin got on the board as freshman Joel Schaeffer took a pass from senior Tim Marco and found the back of the net.
Less than two minutes later, Schaefer scored another, unassisted, to cut the Albion advantage to 11-2.
The Knights continued their scoring run as junior Jonathon Vande Ende scored on a pass from Schaefer to make the score 11-3 in favor of the Britons.
With 2:17 remaining in the third quarter, Albion scored to go up 12-3, a score which it took into the fourth quarter.
In the final period, Calvin doubled its total as Schaefer added two more and freshman Chris Griffin scored another, while the Britons scored eight, and the game ended at a final score of 20-6.
Albion outshot the Knights 46-16 while also winning 22-of-30 face-off attempts.
The Knights were led on offense by Schaefer who finished with four goals and an assist, while Marco had three assists. Griffin and Vande Ende chipped in a goal apiece.
For Albion, Cameron Braun scored seven goals while Alexander Dziewit added three.
"We try to break it down in 15 minute segments for the guys. They've been competing as hard as they can coming out of the gate, but not being able to sub as frequently take us a little bit longer to adjust," said head coach Joel Kamstra. "We made a good push toward the end, and it is exciting to see (our offense) click."
With the loss, the Knights fall to 2-8 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA while the Britons improve to 8-3 and 2-0 in league play.
Calvin's next matchup is Saturday, when the Knights will host the Thunder of Trine at Zuidema Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
MEN'S TENNIS
Alma 5, Calvin 4
ALMA - The Calvin men's tennis team was edged by the host Alma Scots 5-4 on Wednesday afternoon. Calvin is now 4-7 overall and 0-3 in the MIAA.
Like its match on Tuesday against Trine, Calvin claimed two of the three doubles points but was unable to hold on in singles play as Alma took four of the six singles points to claim the win.
Senior Loukas Peterson (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood HS) and sophomore Klaas Walhout (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) were 8-4 winners at one doubles while sophomore Matt Buesing (Hoffman Estates, IL/Fremnd HS) and senior John Strikwerda (Holland/Holland Christian HS) claimed an 8-5 triumph at two doubles.
In singles, Walhout claimed a narrow 7-6, 7-6 win at two singles while Strikwerda was a 6-1, 7-6 victor at four singles. A key match came at number-one singles as Peterson fought hard before falling in three sets to Joshua Gove 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Calvin is back in action on Thursday when it travels to Spring Arbor for a non-conference match.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Kalamazoo 9, Calvin 0
The Calvin women's tennis team dropped a 9-0 decision at league-leading Kalamazoo on Wednesday. Kalamazoo won all six singles flights in straight sets and rolled to quick wins in doubles play.
Calvin is now 3-9 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA. The Knights return to action on Saturday, traveling to Adrian for a 1 p.m. match.
Received on Thu Apr 10 00:35:41 2014
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