Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Alan Babbitt
Reliever Shane Hykin settled down a rough start to the ninth inning, striking out the final two batters to secure a 10-9 victory for the Hope College baseball team at Calvin University on Friday.
The MIAA-leading Flying Dutchmen (22-8, 14-4) held on to split the doubleheader and win the three-game series.
Hope remains one game ahead of second-place Kalamazoo College in the loss column with one three-game series remaining for the Flying Dutchmen: Thursday-Friday, May 6-7 against Trine University.
Kalamazoo has eight games remaining, beginning with a three-game series against Olivet College this weekend. The Hornets (8-5 MIAA) then host a makeup doubleheader against Alma College on Tuesday, May 3, close the regular season with a three-game series against Adrian College on Friday-Saturday, May 7-8.
In Game 2, Hykin (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton HS), pictured, completed his second save of the series against Calvin and his fourth save of the season. The senior right-handed overcame yielding with one out a solo homer to designated hitter Nick Vogel, who went 4-for-5, and a single to second baseman J.C. Fortmann.
Hykin struck out pinch-hitter Nate Mason and left fielder Carson Warners.
Hope went ahead for good when centerfielder Evan Maday blasted a three-run homer to right field for a 10-7 lead. The senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Kentwood) finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
Maday's eighth homer of the season equaled his career-high and was the 20th of his career. The civil engineering major trails only B.J. Maas in career home runs; Maas blasted a Flying Dutchmen record 30 over three seasons between 2001-03.
The Flying Dutchmen edged Calvin (15-15, 8-9) after being outhit, 16-9.
Reliever Eli Kane, pictured right, earned his first career win by tossing a scoreless sixth. The junior from Holland, Michigan (Black River) allowed leadoff and one-out singles but squashed the Knights rally.
Reliever Jake VanDam then scattered two hits and one run allowed over the seventh and eighth for Hope.
In Game 1, two Calvin pitchers fired a three-hit shutout.
Shortstop Brant Kym went 2-for-3 with two singles to lead the Flying Dutchmen. The senior from Libertyville, Illinois (Libertyville) is now batting .519 on the season.
The Knights scored twice in the third on a Hope error and a run-scoring single off starting pitcher Owen Krizan (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) by Warners.
Krizan (4-2) allowed six hits and five runs over six innings.
