A three-game win streak to end the Hope College softball team's Florida trip came alive after the Flying Dutch took down St. Olaf College and Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday.
Hope downed Gustavus Adolphus College for its second win of the day, 3-2, after defeating St. Olaf College 6-1 in the morning.
The Flying Dutch staged a three-run comeback to collect their 11th total win this season in game two after being down 2-0 after the first inning against Gustavus Adolphus.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, junior Emily Martin (Whitehall, Michigan / Whitehall HS) began the climb out from the 2-0 deficit with a single to get on base.
Hope then capitalized on two consecutive errors by the fielders to put freshman Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) and junior Grace Henry (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) on base to join Martin, and load the bases.
Senior Cayley Ebeling (Shelby Township, Michigan / Utica) then hit a single to send in Martin, making it 2-1, with the bases still loaded.
Senior Haley Bennett (Livonia, Michigan / Benjamin Franklin) entered the box and sent a sacrifice fly to left field, which brought in DeMann to tie the game.
In the 6th inning, tied 2-2, Sydney Zombo earned a walk at the plate. Freshman Kennedi Pochmara (Clinton Township, Michigan / Chippewa Valley) pinch ran for the senior from Clinton Township (Fraser).
Pochmara advanced after Martin recorded a double for her team-high second hit of the game. Pochmara would cross home plate for the game-winning run on a passed ball. The defense and junior Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca), who came in for relief pitching, did not allow any hit in the top of the seventh inning, keeping their lead, and taking home the win.
Sophomore Grace Connelly (Grandville, Michigan / Grandville) earned the win for Hope improving to 4-2 this season, and allowed just one hit in the final game of the Florida trip.
Against St. Olaf, the Flying Dutch jumped out to a 4-1 lead after a single inning of play. Doubles from Bennett and senior Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids) in the fifth and sixth innings brought Hope's lead to five, where it would remain until the final out.
Benjamin, Bennett and freshman Mya Spisz collected a team-high two hits, while Benjamin drove in 2 RBIs for Hope in the win.
Junior Alaina Adams (Oak Creek, Wisconsin / St. Thomas More) earned the win with six innings pitched and serving up five strikeouts against St. Olaf.
Hope travels to the University of Chicago for a two-game series on Wednesday, March 29, at 3 p.m.
