The Hope College softball team got strong pitching Saturday afternoon but struggled to get the big hit in clutch situations as the Flying Dutch were swept by Alma College, 2-0 and 2-1, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader at Wolters Stadium.

Hope fell to 2-4 in the MIAA and 16-12-1 overall with the two losses.

In the opening game, the Flying Dutch got a five-hitter from sophomore righthander Grace Connelly of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville). Connelly did not walk a batter and struck out two in going the distance, but took the loss to fall to 6-5 on the season.

The Scots scored a run in the top of the first, then capitalized on a Hope error to score an insurance tally in the sixth. 

Hope had opportunities to score in the fourth and sixth innings, but left the bases loaded in the fourth and runners at second and third in the sixth.

The Flying Dutch had five hits in the first game, led by senior catcher Haley Bennett of Livonia, Michigan (Livonia Franklin) with two singles.

In the second game, Hope outhit Alma 11-4 but did not score until the seventh inning. The Scots scored single runs in the first and fifth to take a 2-0 lead.

The Flying Dutch finally broke through in the seventh. With one out, junior center fielder Peyton Benjamin of Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Eaton Rapids) doubled to right. Then with two outs, junior designated player Kyra Acker of Eaton Rapids, Michigan (Eaton Rapids) singled up the middle, and Benjamin raced home to cut the Alma lead to 2-1.

Senior first baseman Lexi Potapczak of Naperville, Illinois (Benet Academy) followed with another single, and Acker raced to third, putting the tying run just 60 feet away.

However, the Scots got a strikeout to end the game and complete the sweep.

Benjamin went 3-for-4 to lead the Hope offense in the second game, while Bennett and Potapczak each added two hits.

Junior righthander Alaina Adams of Oak Creek, Wisconsin (Thomas More Academy) allowed just one hit and one run in three innings of work, but took the loss to fall to 4-4 on the season.

Junior righthander Samantha Vermeesch of Ithaca, Michigan (Ithaca) allowed three hits and one unearned run in three innings of relief, striking out four and walking one.

Hope returns to MIAA action Wednesday, April 19, with a doubleheader at Olivet College. First pitch is 3 p.m.