CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 31, 2015
Softball Sweeps Albion;
Baseball Bounces Back With Big Win at Hope;
Women's Tennis Falls at Hope
SOFTBALL
Calvin 14, Albion 4 (6 innings)
Calvin 13, Albion 0 (5 innings)
ALBION - Calvin ran its win streak to four games, sweeping its second consecutive doubleheader, this time over the Britons of Albion College Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday's twinbill served as the MIAA opener for the Knights and Calvin opened its conference slate by winning both games in mercy-rule fashion.
In the opener, Calvin fell behind 4-0 as the Britons (4-14 overall, 0-4 MIAA) scored four times in the bottom of the first. The Knights (7-7 overall, 2-0 MIAA) then buckled down, chipped away at the lead and eventually took control of the contest.
Junior Jessica Gillings (Muskegon/Mona Shores HS) got things going with a with a two-run double to left in the second and then scored moments later on an Albion error.
Calvin took the lead in the third on run-scoring singles by junior Lydia Gildea (Gobles/Gobles HS) and sophomore Caitlin Bell (Oak Park, IL/Oak Park River Forest HS).
In the fourth, junior Ashley Riemersma (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) belted a two-run homer and the Knights tacked on two more runs and the rout was on.
Riemersma and junior Alyssa Bryan (Custer/Mason County Eastern HS) later added run-scoring doubles in the sixth to give Calvin a 14-4 advantage. Sophomore Paige Groom (Potterville/Potterville HS) followed with a scoreless frame in the bottom half of the frame to complete the win.
Calvin collected 14 hits with Riemersma, freshman Kaley Frank (Edwardsburg/Edwardsburg HS), Gildea, sophomore Maddie Teune (Grand Rapids/South Christian HS) and Bell all posting multi-hit games.
Groom (4-2) got the win, striking out 10 while walking only two in six innings of work.
In game two, Calvin erupted for 18 hits, scoring three in the first, six in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth to provide ample run support for freshman starter Makela Chapman (Lowell/Lowell HS). Chapman (3-2) meanwhile was stellar in the circle, spinning a one-hit shutout - her second shutout of the season. Chapman struck out four and walked three in the circle.
Calvin belted three home runs in the victory with senior Kelsey Pollock (Greenville/Belding HS), Frank and Gildea all belting roundtrippers. Pollock was 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI's and two runs scored. Freshman Jessica Brasser (Rockford/Grand Rapids Christian HS) was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a double. Frank had a pair of hits with three runs batted in. Gildea, Teune and Riemersma also collected two hits apiece.
"We gave up four runs in the first inning in game one and then we settled down," said Calvin softball coach Tim Syrek. "We were agressive at the plate and hit the ball hard. As a coaching staff, we are really pleased with how our pitchers worked today as well."
Calvin returns to action on Friday when it hosts Wheaton College (IL) in a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
Calvin 12, Hope 2
HOLLAND - After a disappointing 14-7 loss to rival Hope on Monday afternoon, Calvin (5-11 overall, 2-6 MIAA) bounced back in a big way with a 12-2 victory over the Flying Dutchmen Tuesday afternoon at Boeve Stadium. The victory allowed the Knights to gain a four-game series split with Hope.
In Monday's 14-7 loss, Calvin saw a 5-0 lead in the seventh inning vanish as Hope exploded for a 14-run seventh inning. The Flying Dutchmen kept up the pressure by taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Tuesday's game but the Knights refused to buckle, scoring three times in the bottom of the first and adding three more in the second to take control of the game.
Calvin added four runs in the third, one in the fourth and one in the fifth while keeping Hope off the scoreboard the rest of the way to claim the win.
"In my years of coaching, this is the best response from adversity that I have seen from a team," said Calvin head coach John Rypel who is in his first year at the helm of the Knights after previously serving as head coach at Gordon College. "We could have hung our heads after yesterday but we bounced with focus and determination. It was a real team effort and I could not be prouder of our guys than I am today."
Calvin senior Peter Cupery (Holland/Holland Christian HS) received his first start on the mound and responded in strong fashion, scattering four hits before giving way to junior Kyle Wasserberger (Spring Lake/Spring Lake HS). Wasserberger tossed 3.1 innings of shutout relief to gain the win. Senior Austin Juza (St. Joseph/Lake Michigan Catholic HS) pitched a scoreless seventh to complete the win.
At the plate, senior Grant VanPutten (Holland/Holland Christian HS) had a huge day at the plate by going 2-for-3 with four runs scored, an RBI and one stolen base. With his two-hit game, VanPutten moved into a tie for first place on the Calvin career list for hits with 186. VanPutten currently shares first place with Matt Schepel.
Sophomore Colton Wolfe (Eaton Rapids/Eaton Rapids HS) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in while Cupery and sophomore Matt Kotva (Elkhard, IN/Concord HS) batted in two runs apiece.
"I was really pleased with our pitching staff today," said Rypel. "We are starting some players back who have been out with injuries and that is exciting. Today we played like the team that I think this team can be."
Calvin will travel to Olivet on Friday for a conference doubleheader slated to start at 2 p.m.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Hope 9, Calvin 0
HOLLAND - The Calvin women's tennis team bowed to rival Hope 9-0 Tuesday afternoon inside the DeWitt Tennis Center. Ranked 22nd nationally, Hope (10-2 overall, 2-0 MIAA) rolled early, winning the three doubles flights by scores of 8-0, 8-1 and 8-2.
Calvin (6-6 overall, 1-1 MIAA) put up a stronger fight in singles play but eventually succumbed in straight sets in all six flights.
Calvin returns to action on April 8 when it travels to Albion for a 4 p.m. conference match.
Received on Wed Apr 1 00:24:16 2015
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