A sparkling performance on the mound from Sydney Jones and a furious rally in a final at-bat paved the way for the Hope College softball team to two season-opening victories in Leesburg, Florida on Friday.

The Flying Dutch defeated Lake Forest, Illinois 2-0, then North Park, Illinois 8-7 in nonleague play.

Against Lake Forest, Jones opened the day for the Flying Dutch by firing a two-hit shutout. The junior from South Lyon, Michigan (East HS) struck out 11 and walked two.

Catcher Hayley Reitsma of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian) knocked in centerfielder Sammi Adams of Griffith, Indiana (Griffith) with a first-inning single.

Rightfielder Amanda Diaz of Round Lake, Illinois (Mundelein) bunted in shortstop Sarah Jones of Norton Shores, Michigan (Mona Shores) in the fourth inning.

Against North Park, Hope answered a three-run top of the sixth that the Flying Dutch down 7-4w with a four-run rally in its at-bat.

Second baseman Sierra Mutschler of Wayland, Michigan (Wayland) delivered a two-run single during the rally.

Reitsma also contributed a two-run double in the third.

Hope returns to action on Saturday, March 18 with games against Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Buena Vista, Iowa in Clermont, Florida.