WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Kalamazoo College softball team began its spring break trip with two games against Rutgers-Camden and Wisconsin-Stout on Thursday afternoon (Mar. 16). The Hornets won both games, defeating the Scarlet Raptors 6-1 and then completed a comeback to take down the Blue Devils 8-3. With the two wins today, head coach Kelli Duimstra became the all-time winningest coach in Kalamazoo softball history. She passed Laura Kuhlman (1991-96) after winning her 59th career game.
GAME 1 - Kalamazoo 6, Rutgers-Camden 1
Kalamazoo scored the game's first run in the second inning as walks by Bella Caza and Brynna Garden, plus a single by Jaycee Rider, loaded the bases with one out. Cecilia Schihl picked up the RBI on a groundout to the second baseman.
The big inning came in the fifth as the Hornets scored four of their six runs. First, Lucy Hart got the inning going with a solo home run to straightaway center field for her first of the season. Then, a single by Sam Moss and walks by Caza and Garden loaded the bases with no outs. After the Scarlet Raptors got a couple of outs, Kalamazoo scored three straight runs on an RCU error, a passed ball, and an RBI single by Julia Rambo to take a 5-0 lead.
The Hornets' last run came in the sixth as Hart deposited another home run over the center field fence for her second of the season. Rutgers-Camden would score one run in the next half-inning on an RBI single.
Jordan Cook (1-1) threw a complete game for her first win of the season. Cook allowed the one run on four hits and a walk while tying a career-high with 10 strikeouts.
Hart finished 2-4 with two home runs and two RBI. Moss also collected two hits, with Caza and Garden reaching three times on three walks each.
GAME 2 - Kalamazoo 8, Wisconsin-Stout 3
The Blue Devils scored the first three runs of the contest with runs in the first, second, and fifth innings. Two singles and an error on the Kalamazoo defense allowed the runs to cross the plate.
The Hornet bats woke up in the fifth inning as Hart got it started with a one-out walk, and Moss brought both of them home on a home run to left field for her first of the season. Kalamazoo took the lead in a big sixth inning to secure the two-game sweep.
Mackenzie Moore was hit by a pitch and Rider reached on an error to put runners on with no outs. After Natalie Gross moved up the runners on a sacrifice bunt, Lizzy Rottenberk singled through the right side to bring both runners home. Hart singled to put two runners on again, and Moss continued her big day with a two-RBI double. Finally, Garden brought in the final runs on a single up the middle to plate two runs.
Moss (2-0) battled in the circle by allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk for the win. She also reached base in all four at-bats after going 2-2 with a double, a home run, four RBI, and two walks.
Hart collected another two hits and Garden also drove in two runs on two hits. Rottenberk picked up the two remaining RBI.
The Hornets will continue their spring break trip with two games tomorrow (Mar. 17) against Smith and St. Norbert.