The Hope College baseball team fell into a pair of early deficits and never recovered en route to being swept by Kalamazoo College in an MIAA doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Boeve Stadium.

In Game 1, the Flying Dutchmen suffered a 5-2 loss and then dropped the nightcap, 14-2.

Hope (12-8, 5-5 MIAA) trailed 4-0 after the second inning in Game 1. It managed only four hits against Kalamazoo starter Ryan Orr, who struck out eight.

Flying Dutchmen starter Eric Plaehn of Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Catholic Central) was tagged with his first loss of the season after surrendering five runs on five hits in 3.1 innings.

Connor Grimes of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven) pitched well in relief, allowing only one run in the final 3.2 innings to keep Hope in the game.

Mason Opple of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Jordon Fairchild of Muskegon Michigan, (Oakridge) delivered a double in the fourth inning which led to a run.

It didn't get any better for Hope in Game 2 as Kalamazoo scored three runs in each of the first two innings to take a commanding lead.

Starter Ty Van Wieren of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven) didn't make it out of the second inning after giving up six runs on five hits.

The Flying Dutchmen fell behind 11-0 before catcher Codey Houts of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake) launched a home run over the wall in left field.

First baseman Landon Brower of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian) and outfielder JP Batts of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake HS) had two hits each for Hope, which tallied 10 hits.

Hope and Kalamazoo meet again Monday at 2 p.m. for two more games.

Author: Dean Holzwarth