by Eva Dean Folkert

The Hope College softball team was victorious on each end of the competition spectrum on Saturday with one extra-inning win and one game-shortened win in its doubleheader at Olivet College on Saturday.

And pitcher Avery Slancik, pictured right, played a major role in each.

The Flying Dutch defeated the Comets in eight innings in Game 1, 9-8, and needed just five innings to invoke the mercy rule with an 11-0 win in Game 2.

Hope is now 10-4 overall and 6-0 in the MIAA. Olivet falls to 0-10 overall and 0-6 in the league.

Slancik came into pitch the final two innings in relief in the first game and got the victory after facing seven batters, giving up one hit and striking out one.

In the second game, the junior from Scotts, Michigan (Vicksburg HS) pitched the shutout in allowing just two hits and again fanning one.

In both games, though, she was backed up by hot Hope bats.

The Flying Dutch scattered 13 hits in Game 1, five of them for extra bases.

Senior left fielder Jo Cook (Birch Run, Mich./Birch Run HS) and senior pitcher/designated player Megan Soderbloom (Dowagiac, Mich./Dowagiac HS) each clubbed homeruns in the opener; Cook's was a two-run homer in the fourth inning while Soderbloom's solo shot started Hope's rally in the seventh.

The other Flying Dutch seventh-inning run was scored when sophomore catcher Haley Bennett (Livonia, Mich./Benjamin Franklin HS) grounded into a fielder's choice and scored freshman pinch runner Grace Henry (Hudsonville, Mich./ Hudsonville HS) to tie the game, 8-8.

After Slancik held Olivet scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Soderbloom's bat went to work again by singling Cook in with the winning run.

Then, once again, Slancik did not allow the Comets to score in the bottom of the eighth to make the final, 9-8, Hope win. 

In Game 2, Hope again struck 13 hits, including seven doubles and one triple by freshman pinch hitter Vanessa Krombeen (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian HS).

A four-run first inning and a five-run third inning put Hope up, 9-0; in the end, that was all the offensive output they needed to end the game early.

On the day, Cook went 5-for-8 at the plate on the day with five RBIs and three extra-base hits (one homerun and two doubles).

Soderbloom's line was almost identical; she batted 4-for-8 with four RBIs and three extra-base hits (one homerun and two doubles).

Next up, Hope hosts Alma College on Tuesday, April 6 at Wolters Stadium. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 3 p.m.