by Alan Babbitt

Right fielder Spencer Cable and center fielder Evan Maday recorded multi-hit games for the Hope College baseball team during their season opener on Saturday.

Playing for the first time in 364 days, the Flying Dutchmen lost a non-league doubleheader at Millikin University (Illinois), 7-3 and 3-0, on Saturday.

The pair of nine-inning games were the first for the Flying Dutchmen since a March 7, 2020 doubleheader against Franklin College (Indiana).

In Game 1, Cable led off and batted 2-for-5 with two runs batted in. The junior from Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) knocked in Hope's first run of the season with a fifth-inning triple. He added an RBI bunt single in the seventh.

Third baseman Joey Merucci (Northville Township, Michigan/Detroit Catholic Central) added an RBI single in the eighth.

Millikin never trailed after jumping to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

In Game 2, Maday (Grand Rapids, Michigan/East Kentwood) went 3-for-4 for two doubles and two stolen bases.

Shortstop Brant Kym (Libertyville, Illinois/Libertyville) added two hits against Millikin, which improved to 4-0 on the season.

Hope returns to action on Friday, March 12 with a 3:30 p.m. game against Olivet College.