by Kirstin Anderson

The Hope College softball team hit its way to a split at Olivet College on Wednesday.

The Flying Dutch won Game 2 of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader, 13-8, after Game 1 comeback came up short in a 7-5 defeat.

Hope moved to 15-7 on the season and 3-3 in MIAA play. The Flying Dutch's next games are scheduled for Saturday, April 13 with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Adrian College.

In Game 2, Hope scored seven times in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2.

Catcher Whitney Wegener of Ida, Michigan (Ida HS), pictured left, center fielder Jo Cook, pictured right, of Birch Run Michigan (Birch Run), and designated player Claire Bates of Midland, Michigan (Bullock Creek) started the rally with RBI singles on consecutive at-bats.

Starting pitcher Megan Soderbloom of Dowagiac, Michigan (Dowagiac) followed Bates with a two-run single. Three batters later, Hope added two more runs when Olivet dropped a fly ball by second baseman Arinn King of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville).

King extended the Flying Dutch's lead to 8-2 on a third-inning sacrifice fly. Olivet, however, scored five times in the top of the fourth to narrow Hope's lead to 8-7.

Hope answered with two runs in its half of the fourth on RBI singles from right fielder Jordyn Diaz of Naperville, Illinois (Neuqua Valley) and first baseman Shay Pinhey of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Pioneer). Cook, who collected four hits, added a two-run single in the fifth. Wegener, who also had four hits, had a sixth-inning sacrifice fly.

Reliever Maddie Nise of Caledonia, Michigan (Caledonia) improved her record to 1-1 with the win.

Reliever Avery Slancik of Scotts, Michigan (Vicksburg) tossed three innings of one-run relief for her second save.

In Game 1, Hope lost on a two-run, walk off by homer by Olivet's Kaylee Clouthier in the bottom of the seventh. She hit a three-run homer earlier in the game during the third.

Cook broke the ice for Hope in the top of the sixth by blasting an RBI triple to left field and sending King home.

The Flying Dutch tied the score with a four-run seventh. First baseman Kaelin Callow of Plainfield, Illinois (Plainfield) and pitcher Chloe Haskins of Brighton, Michigan (Brighton) started the rally with RBI doubles.

Pinch-hitter Abby Wallar of Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland West) and Bates followed with RBI singles.