by Kirstin Anderson

The Hope College softball team split its home opener at Wolters Stadium on Wednesday, winning the first game, 7-2, but dropping the nightcap, 14-8.

The Flying Dutch are now 10-4 on the season.

The first game saw a balanced scoring effort with seven different Hope players contributing runs.

Shortstop Savannah Dixon of Niles, Michigan (Edwardsburg HS) delivered RBI singles three times in the first, third, and sixth innings. Dixon, pictured left, also scored in the sixth on a single by first baseman Kaelin Callow of Plainfield, Illinois (Plainfield).

Right fielder Jordyn Diaz of Naperville, Illinois (Naperville), pictured right, blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to cap a four-run rally. Wheaton scored twice during its half inning to pull within a run.

Starting pitcher Chloe Haskins of Brighton, Michigan (Brighton) took home the win after tossing five scoreless innings. Haskins (5-1) allowed six hits. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

The second game saw the Flying Dutch jump out to a 7-0 lead after two innings before Wheaton answer a four-run third, a fourth-run fourth and a six-run seventh. The Thunder erupted for 20 hits against four Hope pitchers.

In the first inning, Dixon reached on a fielder's choice for Hope's first run. Second baseman Arinn King of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) hit a sacrifice fly. Leftfielder Noelle Jackson of Grand Blanc, Michigan (Grand Blanc) had a RBI single.

Callow's two-run homer in the seventh put Hope ahead, 7-0. She followed Dixon's RBI single.

Designated player Shay Pinhey of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Pioneer) extended Hope's lead to 8-4 in the third with an RBI single.

Hope plays next at Manchester University (Indiana) on Friday with a 3:30 p.m. non-league doubleheader.