Softball Splits Pair of Extra-Innings Comebacks with Calvin

The Anderson University softball team split Friday's doubleheader with Calvin University in pair of extra-innings comebacks in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Anderson (3-9) rallied back and locked up a 3-2 victory against Calvin (9-5) in eight innings in Game 1. The Knights put together a comeback of their own to claim a 5-4 win in eight innings in Game 2.

GAME 1: ANDERSON 3, CALVIN (F/8)

During the bottom of the fourth inning, Calvin's Carly Dole led off the inning with single. She then stole second and stole third. With one out, Tory Decker drew a walk and advanced to second on defensive indifference. After the Ravens recorded the second out, Audrey Ford pinch hit for the Knights. Ford ripped a two-run single to put Calvin on the board. Bella Duimstra came into to pinch hit and produced a double with a deep fly ball to center field. In spite of the ball being hit over her head, Anderson's Maddie Schoenradt used her speed to make a key defensive play and hold Ford at third base. Calvin then fouled out and was held to two runs in the fourth.

In the top of the seventh, Belle Blickenstaff drew a one-out walk. Mia Flores then came in to pinch run for Blickenstaff. With two outs, Ariannah Jones singled Flores to second. Olivia Cain then pinch ran for Jones. With Avery Owens up to the bat, Cain and Flores took second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch. Owen faced a 1-2 count with two outs when she smacked a game-tying two-run single. The Knights recorded the next out on the bases, but the Ravens entered the middle of the seventh tied at 2-2.

Calvin's first two batters of the bottom of the seventh flew out. Kendall Jordan smashed a two-out triple to create pressure on Anderson. Doyle drew a walk, but the Ravens retired the next batter to enter extra innings.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Maddie Pierini was placed on second to start the top of the eighth. Calvin retired the first two batters, but the Ravens remained alive when Jayda McKee was hit by a pitch. With a 1-2 count, Kylie Coleman delivered an RBI single to give the Ravens a 3-2 lead.

Natalie Bush was placed on second for the Knights to start the bottom of the eighth. Tory Decker grounded out to shortstop to start the inning. As Blickenstaff made the throw to first, Bush attempted to advanced to third, but was thrown out, immediately putting the Ravens one out away from the win. Emily Sweetland then grounded out and Anderson clinched a 3-2 win in eight innings.

The Ravens outhit the Knights 9-6. Jones went 3-for-3 for the Ravens. Owens contributed a two-run single and Coleman provided an RBI single. The Ravens also received singles from Pierini, McKee, Schoenradt and Paycee Lewis to round out Anderson's nine hits.

Dole paced the Knights by going 2-for-2 with three stolen bases. Jordan belted a triple while Duimstra and Decker contributed doubles. Ford rounded out Calvin's six hits with a two-run single.

Ashton Richey (1-1) earned the win for the Ravens. She struck out three batters, issued five walks and allowed two runs on six hits in eight innings. Despite fanning 13 batters, Calvin's Brooke Hunderman (4-3) was hit with the loss. She walked two batters and gave up three runs (two earned) on nine hits in eight innings.

GAME 2: CALVIN 5, ANDERSON 4 (F/8)

In the top of the second, Lewis reached first on an error to lead off the inning. Lewis then advanced to third behind consecutive sacrifice bunts from Coleman and McKee. Blickenstaff then singled in Lewis to put Anderson on the board.

Lewis led off the fourth inning with a double. Coleman once again laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Lewis to third. McKee put the ball in play and reached first after the defense opted to hold Lewis at third. Blickenstaff then recorded an RBI single. An error by the right fielder allowed Blickenstaff McKee to advance an extra base and occupy both bases in scoring position. Owens then drove in McKee on a fielder's choice to put the Ravens ahead 3-0.

M.J. Harper held Calvin hitless for the first four and one-third innings. Even after Mya Brickey broke up the no-hitter in the fifth, Harper held the Knights scoreless for the first six innings.

Decker led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. Jordan flew out advancing pinch runner Reese Veltman to second. Brickey cracked an RBI single to put the Knights on the board. With two outs, pinch hitter Bush ripped a double to put two runners in scoring position. Aubrey Herder then smashed a game-tying two-run double. An error on the play allowed her to advance to third, one base away from winning the game. Jaye Guichelaar grounded out to first to put Game 2 in extras.

Flores pinch ran as the runner placed on second in the top of the eighth. Lewis moved Flores to third on a sacrifice bunt. Coleman then singled in Flores to put Anderson ahead 4-3. McKee advanced Coleman to second on a sacrifice bunt and Blickenstaff was hit by pitch. Calvin retired the next batter to get out of the inning.

Duimsta was placed on second for the Knights in the bottom of the eighth. Ford led off the inning with a bunt single that advanced Duimstra to third and then Ford immediately stole second base. A wild pitch allowed Duimstra to score and Ford to advanced to third as Calvin tied the game at 4-4. Calvin pulled off the 5-4 win as Dole, Decker and Jordan drew consecutive walks.

Anderson outhit Calvin 8-7. Blickenstaff went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Ravens. Schoenradt finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Lewis recorded a double while Coleman, Owen and Jones rounded out Anderson's eight hits with singles.

Brickey went 2-for-3 for the Knights. Herder produced a two-run double and Bush contributed a double. Decker, Ford and Analy Guth rounded out Calvin's seven hits with singles.

Cailin Knoop (1-0) received the win for the Knights in relief after retiring the only batter she faced. Emma Ludema struck out one batter, yielded zero walks and surrendered four runs (one earned) on eight hits in seven and two-thirds innings.

Harper (1-4) suffered the loss. She punched out one batter, issued zero walks and gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits in seven innings. Hannah Merkel came in relief and walked three batters.

UP NEXT

Anderson challenges Trine University (11-1) in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Angola. Trine is ranked No. 2 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA D-III poll.