A walkoff walk capped a wild comeback and a doubleheader split for the Hope College baseball against visiting Kalamazoo on Monday at Boeve Stadium.
Pinch-runner Michael Thomas of Troy, Michigan (Troy HS) strolled home on leftfielder Ryan Konkle's bases-loaded walk to give the Flying Dutchmen a 9-8 victory and complete a comeback from an 8-0 deficit in the seventh inning.
Hope (8-11 overall) rebounded from a 5-2 loss in the opener to head into Tuesday's series finale at Kalamazoo at 4-6 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
The Flying Dutchmen started the ninth-inning rally with a leadoff single from first basemanLandon Brower of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS).
After a fielder's choice, rightfielder Ben De Ritter of Jenison, Michigan (Jenison HS) singled. Pinch-hitter Jordon Fairchild of Muskegon, Michigan (Oakridge HS) later came home on a wild pitch for the first run.
Catcher Nick Glowacki of Goodrich, Michigan (Goodrich HS) reached on a fielding error during his RBI-producing grounder. De Ritter scored.
Following a popout, Thomas ran for Glowacki. Centerfielder Nicholas Holt of Muskegon, Michigan (Catholic Central HS) singled to drive in pinchrunner Zach Kostka of Fenton, Michigan (Fenton HS).
That set the stage for Konkle, Hope's hottest hitter and senior from Marshall, Michigan (Marshall HS). He drew a four-pitch walk off reliever Joe Giacolone to bring home Thomas with the winning run.
The Flying Dutchmen got on the scoreboard with a three-run seventh. Glowacki and Konkle had RBI singles, while Shortstop Brady VanderWeele of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Parchment HS) knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly.
In the eighth, Hope tacked on two runs with a Glowacki single and a Holt bases-loaded walk.
Pitcher Connor Jackson of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS) picked up first win with two innings of scoreless relief. Jackson (1-0) struck out five and walked one hit.
In the opener, Konkle hit a two-run homer in the third, but could bring the Flying Dutchmen only within a run of Kalamazoo (11-7-1, 7-3 MIAA).
It was Konkle's team-leading home run of the season. He also tops the Flying Dutchmen with 24 RBI.
Hope plays another doubleheader at Kalamazoo on Tuesday, April 12 at 2 p.m.