by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College softball team split a pair of one-run games against MIAA opponents on Friday at Wolters Stadium.

The Flying Dutch defeated Alma College, 5-4, before falling to Trine University, 2-1. 

Hope's record is now 13-5. Neither of Friday's outcomes counted toward the MIAA standings.

Against Alma, a four-run fifth inning propelled the Flying Dutch to victory.

Right fielder Cayley Ebeling (Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica HS), pictured, started the rally with a leadoff homer. Her second home run of the season tied the score at 2-2.

Then, with two outs, Hope struck for three more runs. Junior first baseman Kaelin Callow (Plainfield, Illinois/Plainfield), pictured, stroked a go-ahead single to left that plated second baseman Arinn King of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville). It was Callow's second RBI of the game; she had a run-scoring double in the first.

Designated player Megan Soderbloom (Dowagiac, Michigan/Dowagiac) followed with an RBI double to left. Shortstop Savannah Dixon (Niles, Michigan/Edwardsburg) knocked in Soderbloom with a single to left.

Alma pulled with one run with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth. Winning reliever Maddie Gracin (St. Clair Shores, Michigan/Regina) thwarted any more damage by recording the final out of the inning on a groundout.

Soderbloom then retired three of the four Alma batters she faced in the seventh for her firth save. Gracin is now 1-1 on the season.

After Alma rallied to edge Trine, 6-5, the Flying Dutch returned to the field to face the Thunder.

Freshman center fielder Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan/Eaton Rapids) tied the score in the top of the sixth on a RBI single that scored junior third baseman Bre Nolan (Metamora, Michigan/Lapeer) from third. Nolan hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a flyout.

Trine (17-5) led off the inning with a single and moved the runner to third. The Thunder scored the go-ahead run on a single. Hope outhit Trine, 10-6, but left 10 runners on base.

The Flying Dutch return to action on Saturday, April 10 at Calvin University with a 12 p.m. game against Calvin and a 2 p.m. game against Olivet.