Hope Baseball Scores 33 Runs, Takes Two From Finlandia

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The Hope College baseball team collected 33 runs and 30 hits en route to a nonleague sweep of Finlandia on Thursday at Boeve Stadium.

The Flying Dutchmen pushed their win streak to five games heading into a weekend series against Albion by winning 22-1 and 11-0 in five innings.

In Game 1, junior shortstop Brady VanderWeele of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Parchment HS), went 5-for-6 with four runs scored and three RBI to lead the 22-run attack. He doubled twice and singled three times.

Freshman designated hitter Danny Carrasco of Grandville, Michigan (Calvin Christian HS), went 3-for-6 with four RBI for Hope, while sophomore centerfielder Jack Twitty of Rochester, Michigan (Adams HS), batted 3-for-3 with three RBI and a two-run triple.

The Flying Dutchmen's 21 hits were a season-high, passing the previous best of 17 against Vassar on March 14.

Winning pitcher Connor Grimes of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grandville HS), allowed two hits and one unearned run in two innings of relief. Grimes (1-0) struck out three and walked one.

In Game 2, junior leftfielder Ryan Konkle of Marshall, Michigan (Marshall HS), and freshman first baseman Landon Brower of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS), both homered.

Konkle's second home of the season was a two-run blast that capped a three-run first. Konkle finished with three RBI.

Brower's first homer with the Flying Dutchmen also was a two-run blast in a five-run fourth.

Starting pitcher Mitch Reitsma of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian HS), earned the win after scattering three hits and two walks over three innings. Reitsma (1-0) struck out three. 

Hope returns to action on Friday when the Flying Dutchmen begin a four-game series with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Albion.