by Mackenzie McMahon

The Hope College baseball team split a doubleheader against Lawrence University (Wis.) on Saturday in Florida. 

The Flying Dutchmen are now 8-2 on the season.

Photo, from left, Robbie Stuursma, Nolad Gardner, and Caleb Regan by Michael Wilson

Game one had big hits, plenty of runs from both teams, and the orange and blue never trailed. A 10-8 victory was led by Evan Maday (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Kentwood HS) with three hits, one scored run, and one RBI in four at bats for Hope. Maday also had a single stolen base.

Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids), and Caleb Regan (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Byron Center) each had two hits. Andrew Gilpin (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton), Robbie Stuursma (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids), and Dylan Kleinedler (Sterling Heights, Michigan / Stevenson) each had a single hit in game one. Gardner would score two runs in his three at bats with a triple and a team-high two stolen bases. Regan would also score two runs in his four at bats while picking up two RBIs and sending over a homerun in the top of the fifth inning to assist in Hope's 10 runs. Gilpin had three at bats with one hit and one RBI and the ___ scored a single run. 

Stuursma had the other homerun in the high-scoring game also during the top of the fifth inning while picking up two RBIs and touching home plate for a single score. Kleinedler picked up one hit and scored twice for the Flying Dutchmen. 

Reliever Dane Martin (New Baltimore, Michigan / L'Anse Creuse North) picked up the win over Lawrence, pitching 1 1/3 innings and grabbing a single strikeout and facing seven batters. Martin had 11 strikes on 22 pitches in his first win of the season.

In Game 2, Hope lost, 12-8, after falling behind 9-0 in the third.

Grant Barrett (Chelsea, Michigan / Chelsea) slugged a grand slma for the FLying Dutchmen. Kainan Bayn (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East), Spencer Cable (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville), and Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland) all scored on Barrett's homer. 

Hope rallied to within, 9-8, in the eighth behind RBI hits from Money, Bayn, and Barrett, but Lawrence scored the final three runs.

Hope College looks to their next game in Florida as they take on Benedictine (Ill.) on Monday at 2:00 P.M.