A late rally came up short for the Hope College baseball team on Thursday as the Flying Dutchmen lost their MIAA opener, 8-4, at Alma College.

Senior designated hitter Spencer Cable (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI triple for the Flying Dutchmen.

Cable delivered Hope's third consecutive hit to lead off the ninth inning but was stranded at third after Alma reliever Chase Balhoff retired the final three batters on a flyout, lineout and foul fly to first.

The Flying Dutchmen (7-10 overall) are scheduled to host the series finale vs. the Scots on Saturday, April 1, at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at Boeve Stadium,.

Hope scored twice in the ninth, once in the eighth and once in the seventh. 

Junior center fielder Robbie Stuursma (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) cut Alma's lead to 8-2 with an RBI single in the eighth.

Stuursma and senior second baseman Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) had two hits apiece.

Freshman left fielder Jace DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) put Hope on the board with an RBI groundout in the seventh.

Alma (6-12-1 overall, 1-0 MIAA) broke open the game with a six-run fourth inning. The Scots sent 12 batters to the plate against starting pitcher Mason Belmore (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) and reliever Matt Plaehn (Okemos, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) and grabbed a 7-0 lead.

Five different Scots collected RBIs, including left fielder Cole Grunwald and center fielder Mitch Foley with two apiece.

Winning pitcher Tyler Johnson scattered five hits and one unearned run over seven innings of work. Johnson struck out 10 and walked one.