The Hope College baseball team took two at Olivet College in convincing fashion and launched into a first-place tie in the MIAA standings.
The Flying Dutchmen won, 17-2 in seven innings and 12-1 in nine, on Saturday to sweep the three-game series.
Hope (14-6 overall) shares the MIAA lead with Adrian College as both teams have 5-2 league records. Hope hosts Adrian for three games on Monday, April 18, at Boeve Stadium, beginning at noon with the completion of a game suspended on April 8.
At Olivet, the top four batters in Hope's lineup combined for 10 hits, 10 runs scored, and 10 RBIs.
Leadoff hitter Spencer Cable went 3-for 6 with a two-run homer and four runs score. The senior from Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) added an RBI single during a 10-run seventh.
Centerfielder Evan Maday, the No. 2 hitter, smacked a two-run triple during the seventh. The senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Kentwood) also scored twice.
Right fielder Kainan Bayn, pictured above right, collected two hits in three at-bats while also walking twice. The senior from Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East) scored three times.
Cleanup hitter Brant Kym finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including an RBI single and an RBI double in the seventh. The senior from Libertyville, Illinois (Libertyville) recorded his second consecutive four-hit game.
Hope totaled a season-high 18 hits.
Winning pitcher Owen Krizan pitched a complete game. The sophomore right-hander from Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven) improved his record to 3-1 after striking out two and yielding five hits.
In Game 2, senior Andrew Gilpin (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton), pictured, started a Flying Dutchmen rally to a 3-0 lead in the second inning by lacing an RBI single and scoring a double from junior Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central). Gardner came home on a single from junior Caleb Regan (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Byron Center).
Gilpin finished with three RBIs. Gardner and junior Robbie Stuursma collected two RBIs apiece.
Hope batters recorded nine hits and nine walks.
Winning pitcher Matt Plaehn scattered five hits and three walks over seven innings. The senior left-hander from Okemos, Michigan (Lansing Catholic) struck out six while raising his record to 3-2.