The Hope College softball team bounced back in a big way to overtake Wisconsin-Eau Claire with an 8-3 win on Thursday afternoon after dropping game one to the Blugolds.Ā
The Flying Dutch had three consecutive innings to begin game two that propelled them to a 6-2 lead after three innings.Ā
Senior Cayley Ebeling came in with a hot bat as the Shelby Township, Michigan (Utica HS) native sent a three-run shot over the fence for her first at bat of the game. Ebeling drove in both junior Grace Henry (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) and classmate Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids).Ā
Hope kept up the hot bats in inning two as junior Emily Martin (Whitehall, Michigan / Whitehall) drove in freshman Kennedi Pochmara (Clinton Township, Michigan / Chippewa Valley) before Henry was back at the plate to earn a single and send in Benjamin, giving the Flying Dutch a 5-2 lead.Ā
Junior Sydney Zombo (Clinton Township, Michigan / Fraser) touched home plate for the sixth Hope run after freshman Mya Spisz earned a single in the top of the third inning.Ā
Four different Flying Dutch shared a team-high two hits including Henry, Zombo, Spisz, and sophomore Lexie DeHoop (Hudsonville, Michigan / Unity Christian).Ā
Ebeling tallied the team-high three RBIs, while Martin collected 2 RBIs.Ā
Hope successfully stole five bases in the victory.Ā
Junior Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca) collected the win after standing tall in the circle for six innings. Vermeesch fired seven strikeouts and allowed just five hits to Wisconsin-Eau Claire.Ā
In game one against the Blugolds, Henry and Pochmara led Hope with two hits a piece in the 3-0 loss.Ā
Sophomore Grace Connelly (Grandville, Michigan / Grandville) pitched all seven innings, facing off with 30 batters and firing off 103 pitches. Connelly slung eight strikeouts.Ā
The Flying Dutch complete their spring break Florida trip on Friday, March 24 as they take on St. Olaf College and Gustavus Adolphus College at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively in Winter Haven, Florida.
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