Rightfielder JP Batts slid home headfirst to beat the throw from second and hand the Hope College baseball team a 5-4 victory in 10 innings and a sweep of Alma College on Friday at Boeve Stadium.

The Flying Dutchmen opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play with two wins after taking the first game 7-2.

In the 10th, Batts reached on a one-out fielder's choice and advance to third on a single to right from third baseman Drew Pawlanta of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern).

Sojka, who entered the game in the seventh as a pinch-runner, then hit a grounder between first and second. Batts beat the throw at home to send the Flying Dutchmen jubilantly out of their dugout with a 9-3 overall record.

Hope tied the score at 4-4 with a three-run seventh in the scheduled nine-inning game.

The Flying Dutchmen sent nine batters to the plate during the rally. A two-out, two-run double from leftfielder Nick Lepore of Clinton Township, Michigan (Warren De La Salle) tied the score.

Winning pitcher Matt VanDyken of Zeeland, Michigan (East) fired 5 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief. VanDyken (3-0) did not walk a batter and yielded only one hit. He struck out three.

In the opener, winning pitcher Nick Holt of Muskegon, Michigan (Catholic Central) tossed a complete, seven-inning game that included four hits and one earned run allowed. Holt (2-1) struck out five and walked two.

Freshman centerfielder Mason Opple of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) capped a three-run third that propelled the Flying Dutchmen to a 3-1 lead with a two-run double. Opple went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Second baseman Jordon Fairchild of Muskegon, Michigan (Oakridge) also contributed two RBI.

Hope is scheduled to play next on Monday, March 27 with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Alma. Saturday's games were postponed because of rain.