The Hope College softball team soared to victory against both Rivier University (N.H.) and Russell Sage College (N.Y.) in decisive fashion on Saturday in Clermont, Florida. 

The Flying Dutch blanked Rivier, 8-0, in five innings in their spring break opener, then defeated Russell Sage, 9-2, in seven innings.

Hope improved to 4-5 on the season.

Against Rivier, senior Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids HS) reached base on a one-out single in the bottom of the first and later scored the game's first run on a wild pitch. 

The Flying Dutch scored three times in the fourth. Freshman catcher Sophie Stironek (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) contributed two RBIs with a well-placed single through the right side of the field. 

Senior first baseman Jennaka Bultman (Shawnee, Kansas / Shawnee Mission) rounded out the inning by driving in Stironek with a single up the middle. 

In the fifth and final inning, Hope drove in three more runs on hits from senior Sleftfielder Sydney Zombo (Clinton Township, Michigan / Fraser), freshman third baseman Eliana Ruhrup (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan) and Stironek.

On the mound, senior Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca) earned the win by allowing just three hits throughout 68 pitches. Vermeesch (1-1) recorded nine strikeouts.

Against Russell Sage College, Hope jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back.

Sophomore second baseman Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian), Benjamin, Ruhrup, and Stironek each played a part in the early offensive surge.

Stironek went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including an RBI double in the first and a two-run single in the seventh.

DeMann doubled home Benjamin in the first after Benjamin delivered an RBI single to open the scoring. Ruhrup recorded a run-scoring groundout. Stironek capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

Up 5-1, Hope tacked on four runs in the seventh, including Benjamin's steal of home.

Junior reliever Grace Connelly (Grandville, Michigan / Grandville) claimed the win, delivering a strong performance in four innings.

Connelly (1-1) struck out six and yielded one seventh-inning run while throwing 48 pitches.

Hope returns to the field in Kissimmee, Florida on Monday, March 11, to take on Fredonia State (N.Y.) at 11:15 a.m. and Simpson College (Iowa) at 1:30 p.m.