Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 
by Alan Babbitt
The Hope College baseball team took two at Olivet College in convincing fashion and launched into a first-place tie in the MIAA standings.
The Flying Dutchmen won, 17-2 in seven innings and 12-1 in nine, on Saturday to sweep the three-game series.
Hope (14-6 overall) shares the MIAA lead with Adrian College as both teams have 5-2 league records. Hope hosts Adrian for three games on Monday, April 18, at Boeve Stadium, beginning at noon with the completion of a game suspended on April 8.
At Olivet, the top four batters in Hope's lineup combined for 10 hits, 10 runs scored, and 10 RBIs.
Leadoff hitter Spencer Cable went 3-for 6 with a two-run homer and four runs score. The senior from Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) added an RBI single during a 10-run seventh.
Centerfielder Evan Maday, the No. 2 hitter, smacked a two-run triple during the seventh. The senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Kentwood) also scored twice.
Right fielder Kainan Bayn, pictured above right, collected two hits in three at-bats while also walking twice. The senior from Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East) scored three times.
Cleanup hitter Brant Kym finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including an RBI single and an RBI double in the seventh. The senior from Libertyville, Illinois (Libertyville) recorded his second consecutive four-hit game.
Hope totaled a season-high 18 hits.
Winning pitcher Owen Krizan pitched a complete game. The sophomore right-hander from Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven) improved his record to 3-1 after striking out two and yielding five hits.
In Game 2, senior Andrew Gilpin (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton), pictured, started a Flying Dutchmen rally to a 3-0 lead in the second inning by lacing an RBI single and scoring a double from junior Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central). Gardner came home on a single from junior Caleb Regan (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Byron Center).
Gilpin finished with three RBIs. Gardner and junior Robbie Stuursma collected two RBIs apiece.
Hope batters recorded nine hits and nine walks during the scheduled nine-inning game.
Winning pitcher Matt Plaehn scattered five hits and three walks over seven innings. The senior left-hander from Okemos, Michigan (Lansing Catholic) struck out six while raising his record to 3-2.
