by Mackenzie McMahon
A big 13-10 win in game one gave Hope College baseball its first win in MIAA league play for the 2022 season on Saturday against Alma College. The Scots picked up the win in game two by a narrow margin of 8-6.
The Flying Dutchmen (10-5) rallied for the game one win by scoring 12 runs over the final three innings.
Alma attempted its own comeback, as the Scots scored six runs of their own in the bottom of the ninth. Senior Micah Holzwarth (Libertyville, Illinois HS / Libertyville) came in the ninth and retired three of the seven batters he faced.
Reliever Matt Plaehn (Okemos, Michigan / Lansing Catholic HS) earned the win with three innings of work. Starter Sean Hoey (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) struck out 10 and allowed four runs in five innings of work.
Grant Barrett, the senior from Chelsea, Michigan (Chelsea), began a four-run seventh inning that gave Hope a 5-4 lead with a bang as he hit his second home run of the season and sixth in his career.
Senior Evan Maday (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Kentwood) led Hope in RBIs with six as he finished 3-for-5. In a six-run eighth, Maday followed a two-run single from freshman Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland) with a three-run triple.
Junior Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) went 2-for 3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
Senior Brant Kym (Libertyville, Illinois / Libertyville) and Maday shared the team-high of three hits.
In the second game, Hope jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning, when Maday, Kym, Spencer Cable (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) and Robbie Stuursma (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) crossed home plate. Kym and Barrett both delivered two-run doubles.
In the seventh, the Flying Dutchmen extended their lead to 6-1 when right fielded Kainan Bayn (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) smacked an RBI single and scored on a wild pitch.
Alma (4-18) rallied in the bottom of the seventh with seven runs.
Maday had a team-high two runs scored, while Bayn and Barrett led the Flying Dutchmen in hits with two apiece.
Hope's next game is on Monday, April 4 at Boeve Stadium against Alma College at 4:00 p.m. It is the Flying Dutchmen's home opener.