CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 29, 2018
SOFTBALL
Calvin 8, Anderson 0
Calvin 11, Anderson 1
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin softball team swept the home opener on Thursday afternoon at Gainey Field. The Knights opened the day with an 8-0 victory over Anderson. The Maroon and Gold finished off the Ravens in game two, 11-1. Calvin improves to 13-2 on the season and sends Anderson to 5-9.
"I was pleased with the way that we competed today," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "Our offense stayed aggressive throughout both games and we were able to put together some big innings. Most importantly we played error-free ball behind a strong outing from our pitching staff."
The Knights struck first in game one in the third inning. Junior Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) singled to left field to score junior Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea).
Senior Jessica Brasser (Rockford, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) then scored junior Rachel Borden (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg).
Freshman Grace Stock (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) blasted her second home run of the season over the left-field fence to score Maddie DeGroot and Rachel Borden.
In the fifth inning, junior Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) smacked a home run of her own. Gernant also recorded her fourth victory in the circle with six strikeouts.
Rachel Borden then singled up the middle to score sophomore Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East).
Junior Abby Colon (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian) made her first pitching appearance at Calvin in the sixth inning and recorded a strikeout.
The mercy rule was put into effect when Abby Colon scored Jessica Brasser in the sixth inning.
Grace Stock finished game one with a game-high three hits.
The Calvin offense exploded for nine runs in the first inning of game two.
Grace Stock started the scoring with a double down the left-field line to score Jessica Brasser and Maddie DeGroot.
Anna Gernant then doubled to left field to score Grace Stock and Abby Colon.
The long ball came into effect again in game two, Kayla Groen snuck the ball just fair of the left field foul post to send home sophomore Katie Mumby (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake) and Anna Gernant.
Stock struck again in the first inning with a double down the left-field line to score Jessica Brasser.
The nine runs are the most in an inning since the 2015 season opener against Allegheny. The Knights put nine runs on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.
The Ravens got on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the second inning.
The Knights responded with two more runs in the second inning.
Jessica Brasser singled to center field to score Kristen Newman and Grace Stock singled down the left-field line to score senior Kimiko Hinatsu (Romeo, Mich./Romeo).
Freshman Ellie Borst (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) recorded three strikeouts in the win. Freshman Bri Leegwater (Zeeland, Mich./Holland Christian) pitched two innings in relief.
The 11 runs are the most for the Knights since March 18, 2017, when Calvin defeated Ohio Northern in Florida, 14-13.
The Knights open MIAA action on Friday afternoon against Adrian. The games were moved up due to weather on Saturday.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 5, Spring Arbor 4
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's tennis team own a five-hour thriller on Thursday evening. The Knights defeated Spring Arbor 5-4 to improve to 7-4 on the season.
"I am really proud of the heart that the team showed tonight," said head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "After a tough outing in doubles, we were able to bounce back. Alexis really showed some grit tonight to fight back."
The Knights lone doubles point came at court No. 3. The team of sophomore Brittney Statema (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) and freshman Alexis Bonner (Alto, Mich./Forest Hills Central) defeated Emma Joseph and Jewell Allen, 8-3.
Sophomore Anna Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) tied the match at two with a victory at No. 3 singles. Asfour defeated Emma Joseph, 6-2, 6-2.
After a Cougar victory at No. 2 singles, senior Lark Foote (Okemos, Mich./Home School) tied the match again at No. 4 singles. Foote topped Bri Van Ravenswaay, 6-1, 7-5.
Spring Arbor secured the point at No. 1 singles to push the Knights to the brink.
Brittney Statema kept the Knights alive with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Tori Buchholz at No. 6 singles.
Alexis Bonner did not give up after falling in the first set to Jewell Allen, 6-1. Allen led the second set at No. 5 singles, 3-1, but Bonner bounced back to take the set, 6-4. The Calvin freshman cruised in the third set 6-2 to secure the victory.
Calvin returns to action on Saturday against Hope.
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's track and field team captured a non-conference triangular with Alma and Hope Thursday afternoon at Zuidema Field.
Calvin posted a first place team score of 70 points with Hope second with 68 and Alma third with 16 points.
Junior Brendan VanHouten (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) winning the hammer throw (165-3) and discus throw (152-4) while also placing second in the shot put (44-5).
Sophomore Jayvin Wolfe (Middleton, Mich./Fulton HS) was the winner in the shot put with a heave of 44-10.
Junior Alex Williams (Mequon, Wisc./Homestead HS) was a winner in the 110 high hurdles (15.71). Senior Noah Buteyn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) won the 400 meter dash (50.00) while sophomore Sam Veenstra (North Haledon, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) won the 400 meter hurdles (56.92).
Senior Andrew Philipose (Mount Prospect, Il./John Hersey HS) won the 3,000 meter run (8:59.35).
Freshman Matthew Blanker (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) won the 800 meters (2:02.68) with senior Jacob Stout (Escondido, Ca./Escondido Calvin Christian HS) taking home the win in the pole vault (14-0).
Calvin returns to action next Saturday, competing at the Hillsdale Invitational next April 6 and 7.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's track and field team competed in a non-conference triangular with Alma and Hope on Thursday at Zuidema Field and took second with 35 points.
Calvin placed first in four events led by sophomore Allison Rozell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) who won the javelin throw (125-8) and placed second in the triple jump (32-1).
Senior Jenna Dyksen (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne HS) won the long jump (17-5) with junior Erin Van Lenten (Hawthorne, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) winning 100 meter hurdles (15.81) and senior Katie Diekema (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) winning the 3,000 meters (10:31.12).
Freshman Patience Buckley (Smithville Flats, NY/Susquehanna Valley HS) also turning in a strong second place time of 13.58 in the 100 meter dash.
Calvin returns to action next Saturday, competing at the Hillsdale Invitational next April 6 and 7.
BASEBALL
Calvin 5, Trine 1
Calvin 9, Trine 5
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin opened a four-game conference series with Trine by taking both ends of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Calvin Field.
The Knights (6-10 overall, 4-2 MIAA) took the opener 5-1 and used a come-from-behind effort to take game two 9-5.
In the opener, Calvin rode the right arm of junior Jonathan Keane (Brookfield, Mich./Brookfield Central HS) who tossed a complete-game victory. Keane went seven innings, striking out five and walking only five.
Keane scattered seven Trine hits and was aided by the Calvin defense that turned a pair of inning-ending double-plays and also threw out a Thunder baserunner out the at plate.
At the plate, Calvin collected only five hits but reaped the benefits of four Trine errors. Calvin scored three runs in the third and added two insurance runs in the sixth.
Freshman Ricky Padilla (Poway, Ca./Poway HS) drove in one run with an RBI double in the third and Keane helped his own cause by sending a single up the middle that scored two. All three Calvin runs were unearned.
In the sixth, junior Miles Kuperus (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) came up with a clutch two-run RBI single that plated Keane and junior Beau Redfield (Cedar Springs, Mich./Northpointe Christian HS) who had both reached base on errors.
Trine (7-9 overall, 1-5 MIAA) loaded the bases in the top of the seventh but Keane got out of the jam with a game-ending groundout.
In game two, Calvin fell behind 5-0 after the Thunder used three hits and three Calvin errors in the top of the third to build a healthy cushion. The Knights responded with a three-run third in the bottom half with Padilla belting an RBI single, Keane driving in a run on a groundout and Kuperus driving in a run on a Trine infield error.
Calvin added a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Kuperus and then scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead. Sophomore Quinn Hyndiuk (Elm Grove, Wisc./Brookfield East HS) led off the inning with a double to right and scored on a fielder's choice by Redfield. Kuperus came up clutch yet again with an RBI single through the left side.
Hyndiuk added an RBI single in the seventh and Padilla later followed with an RBI single of his own.
Calvin's final run came in the eighth as the Knights scored on a Trine error.
Trine placed two runners on in the ninth but junior Logan Walker (Imlay City, Mich./Lapeer East HS) slammed the door shut with a groundout to second.
Junior Clay Francisco (Delton, Mich./Thornapple Kellogg HS) went 6.2 gritty innings to pick up his second victory of the season. Francisco struck out seven and walked three. Walker was credited with the save - his second of the season.
Calvin amassed 15 hits led by senior Nate DeZwaan (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian HS) who was 4-for-4 at the plate. Hyndiuk was 3-for-5 at the dish with three runs scored. Kuperus was 2-for-5 with three RBI while Padilla was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
The two teams will conclude the four-game series with a Friday doubleheader at Trine set to begin at 2 p.m.
Received on Fri Mar 30 00:53:06 2018
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