CKSR (Calvin Knight Spring Sports Report for March 24, 2017)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPRING SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 24, 2017

BASEBALL

The Calvin baseball team will host Trine University in a doubleheader today at 2 p.m. The doubleheader was moved up a day due to rain showers predicted in West Michigan on Saturday. The doubleheader will serve as the MIAA opener for both teams.

MEN'S LACROSSE

The Calvin men's lacrosse team is currently in Texas on its spring break trip. The Knights will face the University of Dallas this afternoon at 5 p.m.

Earlier this week, the Knights gave back to the community with a service project. For more, read the Calvin website at: http://calvinknights.com/sports/mlax/2016-17/releases/20170322z2euj8

SOFTBALL

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Calvin softball team improved to 5-3 on spring break and 8-4 on the year with a pair of victories on Thursday in Florida. The Knights started the day downing the Dutchwomen of Union 5-1 and edged Colby in the final game of the day 9-8.
"We struggled a bit at the plate so we went to the short game against Union," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "We executed several opportunities to get a few runs across. Anna did a nice job keeping the Union hitters off balance and our defense played well."
Sophomore Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) started the game with a triple to left field. Sophomore Rachel Borden (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) then scored her on a fielder's choice.
The Knights struck again in the fourth inning when junior Jessica Brasser (Rockford, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) tripled to right field. Junior Kaley Frank (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg) scored Brasser on the next play.
Maddie DeGroot tallied her second run of the game in the sixth inning, crossing home plate on a sacrifice bunt from Jessica Brasser.
Union would tack a run onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a 3-1 game.
In the seventh inning, sophomore Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) scored sophomore Maggie Kaercher (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) on a fielder's choice and sophomore Casey Lawler (Novi, Mich./Novi) singled to right field, scoring Kayla Groen.
Sophomore Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) finished the game with 13 strikeouts. Thursday was the third time this season she has recorded 10 or more strikeouts.
After giving up two runs in the top of the first inning to Colby, the Knights tied the game in the bottom of the first. Kaley Frank flied out to center field to score Maddie DeGroot. Rachel Borden then scored on an error.
"We jumped out to a nice lead and Paige worked hard to limit Colby's opportunities," said Hilgert. "We were one out away but we have learn to finish teams off. This week we have been a little inconsistent finishing a full 7 innings. In the extra inning our defense stepped up and we were able to execute in the bottom of the eighth with a sac bunt from Jess to move Rachel to third and Kaley came through with the walk off hit."
In the bottom of the third inning, Calvin claimed the lead with five runs. Anna Gernant started the scoring with a homerun to right field that scored Jessica Brasser. Freshman Katie Mumby (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake) sent another shot over the fence to score Casey Lawler and freshman Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East).
Anna Gernant made it an 8-3 game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Rachel Borden.
The Mules would not go away and tied the game with five runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Kaley Frank sealed the victory with a shot over the Colby infielder and into right field to score Rachel Borden in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Senior Paige Groom (Potterville, Mich./Potterville) pitched 6.2 innings, with Anna Gernant pitching the last 1.1 innings.
The Knights close the spring break portion of their schedule on Friday against Buffalo State and New Paltz.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. - The Calvin women's lacrosse team finished its spring break schedule with a 22-12 loss to the Golden Knights of Clarkson.
Clarkson jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the first 17 minutes of play. The lone Calvin goal came from senior Emily Cefaratti (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) on a free position shot. Goals from junior Emma Hall (Harare, Zimbabwe/Chisipite Senior School) and freshman Emma Verrett (Beaver, Pa./Beaver County Christian)helped cut into the Clarkson lead.
Calvin closed the final 67 seconds of the first half on a 2-0 run. Freshman Allyson Mesman (Jenison, Mich./Hudsonville) scored on a free position shot and freshman Jamie Van De Brug (Lowell, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) made it 12-5 going into halftime.
The Knights made it a four-goal game with a 3-0 run to start the second half.
Sophomore Emma Tilma (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) tallied two of the Maroon and Gold goals, while sophomore Grace Einfeld (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) scored the other on a free position shot.
After two Clarkson goals, the Knights would cut the lead to four again with goals from Emily Cefaratti and junior Madeline Baas (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian).
Clarkson would get some separation with a 4-0 run.
Emma Tilma and Emily Cefaratti scored the final two goals for Calvin.
Sophomore Ellis Chalfant (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day) finished with a season-high 14 saves on Thursday.
Emily Cefaratti and Emma Tilma led the Knights with three goals each.
Calvin returns to action on Tuesday when the Knights host Franklin.

MEN'S TENNIS
Grinnell 6, Calvin 3

ORLANDO, FL - Calvin dropped a 6-3 decision to regionally-ranked Grinnell College Friday morning at the United States Tennis Association complex.
Ranked 14th in the ITA Division III Central Region rankings, Grinnell (6-8) gained a 2-1 advantage after doubles play with all three fights tightly contest.

Calvin (8-2) picked up a win at No. 3 doubles as senior Tony Vroon (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian HS) and sophomore Jason Wolters (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) claimed a 9-8 win. Senior Taylor Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) and junior Matt VanWinkle (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph HS) dropped a tight 8-6 match at No. 1 doubles while freshman Rodrigo Castellanos Vaca Guzman (Tarija, Bolivia/Felipe Palazon HS) and junior David Brown (Lake Zurich, Il./Lake Zurich HS) fell 9-7 at No. 2 doubles.

In singles action, Calvin picked up singles victories at No. 2 and No. 4 singles. VanWinkle was a 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 winner at No. 2 singles while Wolters claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 11-9 win at No. 4 singles.

Calvin had two other singles flights go three sets but came up just short. Freshman Owen Brookhouse (Whitinsville, Mass./Whitinsville Christian HS) fell 6-3, 4-6, 10-3 at No. 5 singles while senior Jared Doezema (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) fell 6-3, 4-6, 13-11 at No. 6 singles.

Calvin is scheduled to complete its spring trip to Orlando on Friday with matches against Carthage and Keiser.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
St. Catherine 6, Calvin 3

ORLANDO, FL - The Calvin women's tennis fell to St. Catherine University 6-3 Thursday afternoon at the USTCA Center.

The match was hard-fought and featured tight individual matches.
Calvin (5-4) took two of the three doubles flights. Seniors Claire Spoelhof (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) and Ellie Benzel (San Dimas, Ca./San Dimas HS) teamed up for a thrilling 9-8 win at No. 1 doubles. Junior Jessica Bouma (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian HS) and junior Micaela Seazzu (Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) won 8-5 at No. 3 doubles.

Bouma won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles but St. Catherine (9-4) took the remaining five singles flights. Two of the remaining five singles flights were decided in three-set tiebreakers with Alisha Wiedmeier defeating Benzel 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 at No. 2 singles and Jessica Duda topping freshman Anna Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 at No. 5 singles.

Calvin will conclude its spring break trip on Friday morning with a 10 a.m. match against Carthage College.
Received on Fri Mar 24 09:31:14 2017