The Hope College softball team picked up its first win of the season during a three-game opening weekend in Edwardsville, Illinois.
With all three games decided by one run, the Flying Dutch went 1-2 in opening weekend, highlighted by a 5-4 seven-inning-win over Carroll University (Wis.) on Saturday. Hope dropped a Friday matchup with Fontbonne University (Mo.), 4-3, as well as the team's final game of the weekend, a 10-9 loss to DePauw University (Ind.).
"We learned a lot this weekend, both them and me," said head coach Brittney Harvey. "I am proud of the way they competed, and they showed a lot of fight with the two extra inning games. I'm extremely excited to see where we go as we continue to fall in love with the process."
Against Carroll, the Orange and Blue cashed in on a four-run third inning where senior Lexi Potapczak (Naperville, Illinois / Benet Academy) earned a bases-loaded walk in her at-bat, which sent in freshman Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) with the first run.
Freshman infielder Mya Spisz (Oxford, Michigan / Oxford) then found herself safe at first after an error by Carroll in the field that allowed junior Emily Martin (Whitehall, Michigan / Whitehall) to cross home plate with an unearned run. Senior Haley Bennett (Livonia, Michigan / Benjamin Franklin) then hit a two-run single to plate Potapczak and junior Grace Henry (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).
Carroll tied the score with a three-run rally in the top of fifth. Lexie DeHoop (Hudsonville, Michigan / Unity Christian) scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth on a Carroll fielding error.
Junior Alaina Adams (Oak Creek, Wisconsin / St. Thomas More) recorded the win for the Flying Dutch after allowing just one walk and no runs against nine batters in relief. Junior Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca) tossed a scoreless seventh for the save.
DeMann and senior Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids) led Hope with two hits apiece in the win over Carroll, while DeMann had a team-high two stolen bases.
Saturday's second game of the day had the Flying Dutch faced off with DePauw University, where a 10-9 victory went to DePauw. Hope was down 6-0 before a run for the Orange and Blue crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Kennedi Pochmara (Clinton Township / Chippewa Valley) singled to send in Bennett to score. Hope then tacked on four more runs in the 6th inning, showing some grit in a potential comeback. DePauw held their ground, keeping Hope at bay and securing the win by a single run.
Bennett collected a game-high three hits in Hope's third game in two days. Martin, Henry and senior Cayley Ebeling (Shelby Township, Michigan / Utica) each tallied two hits apiece.
In Friday's loss to Fontbonne, both Benjamin and Potapczak doubled for the Flying Dutch. Benjamin's RBI double in the top of the seventh forced extra innings. Fontbonne scored on a walk off infield single in the ninth.
Adams went the distance in the circle, pitching 8 2/3 innings for Hope and putting up six strikeouts and walking just one.
The Flying Dutch look to step on their home field to host Defiance College (Ohio), on Saturday, March 4, at Wolters Stadium. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m.
