The Hope College softball team is set to compete in the MIAA Tournament for the 22nd time this week in Angola, Indiana.
The second-seeded and 20th-ranked Flying Dutch will open the double-elimination tournament against third-seeded Alma Thursday at 11 a.m.
Click here for host Trine University's tournament page.
Admission is $7 per day for adults. MIAA students get in for free. Tickets are $5 for non-MIAA students and MIAA staff/faculty.
The Hope-Alma winner advances to play again at 5:30 p.m. against either top-seeded and fifth-ranked Trine or fourth-seeded Saint Mary's. The loser will face a 3:30 p.m. elimination game Thursday.
The Flying Dutch are seeking their sixth MIAA Tournament championship. They previously won in 2006, 1996, 1995, 1992 and 1991. Hope is 37-33 all-time in MIAA Tournament play.
Hope trails the all-time series with Alma 58-38. The Flying Dutch are 8-14 against the Scots in MIAA Tournament play. Hope is 0-7 against Trine in postseason action and 3-0 against Saint Mary's.
Click here for Hope's MIAA Tournament history.
Hope and Alma split their regular-season doubleheader this season. The Flying Dutch dropped Game 1 by a 3-1 margin but won the nightcap 5-3.
This has been a power-packed season for Hope. The Flying Dutch already have set a new school record with 36 home runs after passing the previous mark of 30.
Nine different Hope players have at least one home runs this season. Freshman second baseman Sierra Mutschler of Wayland, Michigan (Wayland HS), has tied the individual school record with eight homers. Senior designated player Julie Sobieski of St. Charles, Illinois (East HS), is tied for fourth all-time with eight, while senior first baseman Peyton Wells of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS), is tied for fifth with seven home runs.
Hope also has broken the school's record for doubles with 65. The old mark of 56 was shared by three teams. Junior shortstop Jenna Maury of Lawton, Michigan (Lawton HS), is tied for fifth all-time with a team-leading 11 doubles.
The Flying Dutch's .357 batting average is tops in team history. The school record of .349 was established during the 2008 season. Junior centerfielder Autumn Anderson of Dorr, Michigan (Wayland HS), tops Hope with a .457 batting average that is fourth-highest all-time.
Hope's .555 slugging percentage also is tops in school history. The previous record is .500.
Two Flying Dutch pitchers share the team lead with eight wins apiece: senior lefthander Natalie Hiser of Westland, Michigan (Livonia Churchill HS), and freshman Sydney Jones of South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon East HS). Hiser and Jones are one winfrom tying for seventh place all-time in single-season pitching wins at Hope.
Head coach Mary VandeHoef has led the Flying Dutch to their fourth MIAA Tournament in her five-season tenure. She has a 3-6 postseason record.
