Reliever Shane Hykin settled down a rough start to the ninth inning, striking out the final two batters to secure a 10-9 victory for the Hope College baseball team at Calvin University on Friday.
The MIAA-leading Flying Dutchmen (22-8, 14-4) held on to split the doubleheader and win the three-game series.
Hope remains one game ahead of second-place Kalamazoo College in the loss column with one three-game series remaining for the Flying Dutchmen: Thursday-Friday, May 6-7 against Trine University.
Kalamazoo has eight games remaining, beginning with a three-game series against Olivet College this weekend. The Hornets (8-5 MIAA) then host a makeup doubleheader against Alma College on Tuesday, May 3, close the regular season with a three-game series against Adrian College on Friday-Saturday, May 7-8.
In Game 2, Hykin (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton HS) completed his second save of the series against Calvin and his fourth save of the season. The senior right-handed overcame yielding with one out a solo homer to designated hitter Nick Vogel, who went 4-for-5, and a single to second baseman J.C. Fortmann.
Hykin struck out pinch-hitter Nate Mason and left fielder Carson Warners.
Hope went ahead for good when centerfielder Evan Maday blasted a three-run homer to right field for a 10-7 lead. The senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Kentwood) finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs
Maday's eighth homer of the season equaled his career-high and was the 20th of his career. The civil engineering major trails only B.J. Maas in career home runs; Maas blasted a Flying Dutchmen record 30 over three seasons between 2001-03.
The Flying Dutchmen edged Calvin (15-15, 8-9) after being outhit, 16-9.
Reliever Eli Kane earned his first career win by tossing a scoreless sixth. The junior from Holland, Michigan (Black River) allowed leadoff and one-out singles but squashed the Knights rally.
Reliever Jake Van Dam (Cranford, N.J. / Cranford) then scattered two hits and one run allowed over the seventh and eighth for Hope.
In Game 1, two Calvin pitchers fired a three-hit shutout.
Shortstop Brant Kym went 2-for-3 with two singles to lead the Flying Dutchmen. The senior from Libertyville, Illinois (Libertyville) is now batting .519 on the season.
The Knights scored twice in the third on a Hope error and a run-scoring single off starting pitcher Owen Krizan (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) by Warners.
Krizan (4-2) allowed six hits and five runs over six innings.