| Highlights on the mound: baseball
by Ryan Jones
Staff Writer
Calvin baseball moved closer to the top of the MIAA standings this week by edging out two of three games against Albion, including a split of a doubleheader on Monday. All three games were decided by one run.
On Saturday, sophomore ace Jim Deters pitched an epic 11-inning complete game gem and the Knights took home a hard-fought 4-3 victory.
In Monday’s opening game, Calvin traded big innings with Albion early on, and then was forced to mount a stunning late comeback to capture a 10-9 win which featured an offensive showcase by junior Darrell Heuker. A three-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the fourth were his first two collegiate home runs and almost half of his team’s offensive production.
After Albion scored three runs in the fifth to make the game 9-5, it was up to the Knights to rally back. A sacrifice fly in the sixth made it 9-6. In the top of the seventh, a Josh Vriesman two-run shot brought Calvin within one run. With the bases loaded and two outs, an infield error brought home the tying run. Albion could then do nothing but gape in disbelief as their lead slipped away when freshman pinch-hitter Kyle Hollemans capped the breath-taking comeback with a game-winning single.
In the bottom of the seventh, another freshman, Ben Buikema, shored up the win by retiring the shell-shocked Britons in order and getting his first collegiate save.
In game two of the doubleheader, Calvin jumped out to an early lead as Heuker continued to lambaste Briton pitching, jacking another three-run homer and knocking in his 5th, 6th, and 7th RBIs of the day. Freshman Brandon Oldenbroek had a strong outing, holding Albion to two runs on two hits in five innings of work and leaving with a 4-2 lead. But in the sixth, a home run, a sacrifice bunt and a double off freshman reliever Kory Ciecielski gave the Britons a 5-4 lead.
Buikema was once again brought in to hold off the storm and get the final out of the inning. In the top of the seventh, Calvin had one last chance to tie as Calvin VanEps advanced to third base with two outs. But a game-ending groundout dashed any hopes of another Knight comeback.
On Tuesday, the Knights dropped a tough game to DII opponent Grand Valley State in a non-conference 7-3 loss. The Knights played a good game, outhitting the Lakers 10-8, but saw a number of scoring opportunities evaporate on three ground balls that GVSU turned into inning-ending double plays. Four GVSU runs were unearned as the Knights committed three costly errors. Freshman Ben Buikema had yet another strong outing in relief, allowing only one earned run in three innings of work.
The loss dropped Calvin to 5-9 overall, but their conference record remains a strong 2-1, solidifying a third place spot. With a strong showing against rival Hope College this weekend, the Knights could pass the Dutchmen and grab the second spot in the MIAA.
The three game series opens at Hope on Friday at 3 p.m, and closes with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
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