CKSR (Men's Tennis Tops Bethel College for Road Win / Softball Splits at Saint Mary's)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 18, 2016

Men's Tennis Tops Bethel College For Road Win;
Softball Splits at Saint Mary's

MEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 8, Bethel 1

MISHAWAKA, Ind .- The Calvin men's tennis team picked up an 8-1 non-conference victory at Bethel College (Indiana) Monday afternoon. The Knights are now 9-4 on the season.

Calvin swept the doubles competition, gaining the early advantage. Sophomore Matt VanWinkle (St. Joseph/St. Joseph HS) and junior Taylor Asfour (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) gobbled up an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles with senior Matt Buesing (Hoffman Estates, Il./Fremd HS) and sophomore David Brown (Lake Zurich, Il./Lake Zurich HS) following with an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles. Freshman Andrew Airgood (Sturgis/Sturgis HS) and freshman Jason Wolters (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) were 8-3 winners at No. 3 doubles.

In singles action, junior Anthony Vroon (Grand Rapids/South Christian HS) was a 6-4, 6-0 winner at No. 6 singles. VanWinkle then providing the clinching point with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles. Brown added a 7-5, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles while Airgood chalked up a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles. Wolters picked up Calvin's final win, claiming a 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 thriller at No. 4 singles.

"It was good to pick up a road win," said Calvin men's tennis coach John Ross. "We know we have a big test tomorrow but it was good to get some work in today."

Calvin will travel to longtime MIAA kingpin Kalamazoo College on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. conference match.

SOFTBALL
Saint Mary's 4, Calvin 0
Calvin 6, Saint Mary's 4

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Calvin softball team split with the Saint Mary's Belles on Monday afternoon. The Belles took the first game 4-0. The Knights then evened the day with a 6-4 victory in game two. The Calvin bats went off in game two with four homeruns. Calvin is now 14-12 and 4-6 in MIAA action, Saint Mary's moves to 15-12 and 5-3 in MIAA play.
"The team was very resilient today," said Calvin interim head coach Kevin Vande Streek. "I feel bad for Anna Gernant in the first game. They only had one hit that was hit well, we just didn't score runs and that is the bottom line. The second game the bats came out, there are not many times you get four homeruns, including two from Lydia Gildea, who continues to score runs.
The Knights and Belles found themselves in a pitching duel in game one. Freshman Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Il./Valley HS) and Morgan Raymer dominated the game and made quick work of both lineups.
The Belles broke the tie with a four-run sixth inning to win the game.
Anna Gernant recorded six strikeouts in the loss.
Freshman Rachel Borden (Edwardsburg/Edwardsburg HS) led the team with two hits.
The Belles struck first in game two with three runs in the top of the first inning.
The Calvin seniors responded with back-to-back homeruns in the bottom of the first inning. Ashley Riemersma (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) crushed the ball over the left-center fence and then Lydia Gildea (Gobles/Gobles HS) sent the ball over the right-field fence.
Freshman Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) tied the game with a blast over the left-field fence.
Lydia Gildea broke the tie with a single through the right side of the infield, scoring Rachel Borden.
In the fifth inning, Lydia Gildea notched her second homerun of the game with a two-run shot over the right-field fence, scoring Borden.
The Belles cut into the Calvin lead with a run in the sixth inning.
Anna Gernant struck out three in the win.
Lydia Gildea had a game-high three hits and four RBI.
The Knights return to action on Thursday when the Knights host Aquinas.

MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-18-16 GAMES

Alma 9-1
Trine 7-1
Hope 7-3
Saint Mary's 5-3
Calvin 4-6
Adrian 3-5
Kalamazoo 3-5
Olivet 2-4
Albion 0-12
Received on Mon Apr 18 22:56:36 2016