by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College baseball team could not make a fast start hold up in an 11-8 loss to Calvin University on Wednesday at Boeve Stadium.

The Flying Dutchmen dropped to 9-7 on the season. The game did not count in the MIAA standings.

Hope scored the first seven runs of the game.

Catcher Cal Barrett (Chelsea, Michigan/Chelsea HS) delivered an RBI single in the first inning to put Hope on the board.

In the second, right fielder Spencer Cable (Hudsonville, Michigan/Hudsonville) followed a run-scoring single from designated hitter Robbie Stuursma (East Grand Rapids, Michigan/East Grand Rapids) with a two-run double to center.

In the third, Barrett, pictured, started a three-run rally with his second RBI single of the day. Left fielder Kainan Bayn (Zeeland, Michigan/Zeeland East) smacked a run-scoring double, then first baseman Ted Eppinga (Saline, Michigan/Saline) stroked an RBI single.

Calvin (7-7) tied the score at 8-8 with a six-run fifth that included a 20-minute lightning delay. The Knights took the lead on Ricky Padilla's two-run homer in the seventh.

Calvin totaled 14 hits against six Flying Dutchmen pitchers to Hope's 10 against seven Knights pitchers.

Hope returns to action on Friday-Saturday, April 9-10 with a four-game series against MIAA leader Adrian College. Friday's doubleheader at Boeve Stadium begins at 2 p.m.