Hannah Taylor
Local natives took center stage Saturday when Calumet College of St. Joseph visited IU Columbus for a softball doubleheader.
Hannah Taylor, a sophomore from Hauser, knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Crimson Pride a 5-4 first-game victory.
Then, Kelsey Lovelace, a freshman from Columbus North, went 2 for 4 with a double and four RBIs to help lead Calumet to a 15-11 victory in Game 2 at Ceraland.
Gracie Holok
On a day in which IUC honored five seniors prior to the opener, senior Gracie Holok also came up big for the Crimson Pride. She homered in her first two at bats and went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and four runs scored in Game 1.
“Senior Day is a lot of pressure for my seniors,” IUC coach Tommi Stowers said. “Truthfully, we won Game 1 off of Gracie Holok. She truly was a leader, and Justice Cash did a great job pitching.”
Cash pitched six strong innings before giving up a game-tying three-run homer in the top of the seventh. Maddison Brittain came on to record the final two outs and picked up the win after Taylor’s RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh.
In the second game, Calumet jumped on the board with six runs in the first and was two outs from winning via run-rule when it led 10-2 in the fifth. But IUC rallied with eight runs after there was one out in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
“Our team definitely likes to do that,” Stowers said. “It’s amazing that they didn’t quit, and they just kept battling. It was exciting to watch. It’s a little stressful, but it’s exciting to know that they didn’t lose hope. If we can beat this team, we should compete in conference for sure.”
Calumet came back with five runs in top of the sixth and was able to hold on for the win. Crimson Pride ace Erica Henry took the loss.
“The best thing is when Erica Henry maybe didn’t have her best day, at least her teammates had her back on Senior Day, and that’s truly what Senior Day is all about.”
One of those seniors, Izzy Johnson went 2 for 4 with a double in the first game and 3 for 5 in the second. Taylor York went 4 for 5 with four runs scored in Game 2. North graduate Lexi Heafner went 2 for 2 with a double, senior Kaydence Brewer went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and senior Macy Hussung went 2 for 4.
The first-game heroes kept their bats going in the second. Holok had a double and two RBIs, and Taylor went 3 for 5 with a dobule and three RBIs.
“Hannah was on fire all day today,” Stowers said. “She came up clutch multiple times in Game 1 and Game 2.”
Kelsey Lovelace
Lovelace did, as well. She singled and scored in the seventh inning of the opener when Calumet briefly tied the game.
“We haven’t played in 2 1/2 weeks, so we were kind of rusty coming out here, but I think we knocked some of our rust off, and we’re looking forward to playing this Wednesday,” Lovelace said. “This is our first game in Indiana. It was good see familiar faces, be in a familiar atmosphere and it was fun.”
Calumet (5-13) will play its home opener with a doubleheader Wednesday against Judson (Illinois). IUC (7-13) will host doubleheaders Friday against Rio Grande and Saturday against Shawnee State.
