JP Batts and Mason Opple both homered as the Hope College baseball team split a doubleheader at Albion on Wednesday.

The Flying Dutchmen won the opener 8-4 before falling 15-5.

In Game 1, Opple hit his first home run of the season in the top of the third inning to extend Hope's lead to 3-0. The leftfielder from Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) finished with three RBIs.

The Flying Dutchmen broke open the game with a four-run fifth that featured a RBI double from leftfielder Nick Lepore, a run-scoring single from Batts, and a two-run double from third baseman Danny Carrasco.

Winning pitcher Eric Plaehn of Lansing, Michigan (Catholic Central) scattered six hits and four runs over six innings to raise his record to 6-2. Plaehn struck out seven and walked one.

In Game 2, Hope never led after the Britons charged to an 8-0 lead with a two-run second and a six-run third.

Batts slugged a two-run homer in the sixth. It was the second home run of the season for the rightfielder from Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake).

Batts went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. The Flying Dutchmen were outhit 19-10.

Hope (20-14 overall) remains in third place in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings with a 13-9 league record.

The Flying Dutchmen are one game in the loss column ahead of fourth-place Calvin and Trine and two ahead of sixth-place Alma.

Hope and Albion are scheduled to conclude their series on Friday at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader at Boeve Stadium.