CKSR (Softball Sweeps Saints in Non-Conference Twinbill)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 21, 2016

Softball Sweeps Saints in Non-Conference Twinbill

SOFTBALL
Calvin 7, Aquinas 3
Calvin 9, Aquinas 3

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin softball team swept the visiting Saints of Aquinas College on Thursday afternoon. Calvin is now riding a three-game win streak and is 16-12 on the year. The Knights won the first game 7-3 and the second game 9-3. Aquinas falls to 8-28 on the year.
"I am happy with the victories," said head coach Kevin Vande Streek. "I feel our batting led us today. We also had some great off-the-bench performances today. It was nice to get two wins, we will enjoy these, but we have to get back to work and get ready for Adrian."
The Knights jumped on the Saints early in game one. The Knights tacked four runs to the scoreboard in the first inning. Senior Lydia Gildea (Gobles/Gobles HS) scored freshman Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) and freshman Rachel Borden (Edwardsburg/Edwardsburg HS) on a single down the right-field line. Sophomore Jessica Brasser (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) brought home Gildea on a triple down the right-field line. Freshman Anna Gernant then scored Jessica Brasser.
The Saints cut into the Calvin lead with two runs in the second inning when junior Ann Hardin tripled to left field, scoring Alex Forsythe. Senior Irma Cruz then scored Hardin. Senior Lexi Popma scored in the third inning off of a double by Brooke Senkbeil.
Lydia Gildea extended the Calvin lead with a double to left-center field to score Rachel Borden and senior Ashley Riemersma (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS). The two RBI tied the school record for RBI in a season.
Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, IA/Valley HS) crossed home plate in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice by freshman Kristen Newman (Chelsea/Chelsea HS).
Anna Gernant dominated in the circle for Calvin, striking out six-straight batters and finishing with seven strikeouts. Sophomore Makayla Chapman had a strong start recording three strikeouts on the day.
Lydia Gildea and Maddie DeGroot had a game-high two hits for Calvin. Gildea led all batters with four RBI in game one.
The Saints struck first in game two with a pair of doubles in the first inning. Brooke Senkbeil doubled in Lexi Popma and senior Jenn Woolard scored Senkbeil on a double.
Lydia Gildea established a new school record with her 39th RBI of the year in the bottom of the first inning. Gildea scored Jessica Brasser on a single to center field.
Ann Hardin pushed the Saints lead to 3-1 with a solo blast over the left-field fence.
The Knights took control of the game with a seven-run fourth inning. Sophomore Kaley Frank started the scoring with a single to right center scoring Anna Gernant. Junior Caitlin Bell (Oak Park, Il/Oak Park River Forest HS) plated freshman Maggie Kaercher (Dexter/Dexter HS) on a bunt single. Ashley Riemersma singled to center field to score Frank and Bell. Lydia Gildea singled up the middle to score Maddie DeGroot. Jessica Brasser scored Ashley Riemersma on a sacrifice fly and Lydia Gildea scored on an error.
Maggie Kaercher recorded her first hit in her career in the fourth inning with a single to center field.
Lydia Gildea finished the scoring with a solo homerun that was crushed over the center-field fence.
Calvin's pitchers had a solid game in the circle, junior Paige Groom (Potterville/Potterville HS) recorded the victory, throwing the first four innings and recorded two strikeouts. Anna Gernant didn't allow a hit in the final three innings, striking out three Saints.
Lydia Gildea finished with a game-high three hits and three RBI. Ann Hardin had a team-high two hits for Aquinas.
The Knights return to action on Saturday when they have a key conference series against the Adrian Bulldogs on the road.
Received on Thu Apr 21 23:31:01 2016