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Mady Pahl steals second base vs. Adrian.
Lynne Powe
Pictured, junior Mady Pahl
1
Adrian ADRIAN 18-7
5
Winner Hope HOPE 19-9
Adrian ADRIAN
18-7
1
Final
5
Hope HOPE
19-9
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Adrian ADRIAN 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 2
Hope HOPE 3 0 1 0 0 1 X 5 5 0

W: Vermeesch, Samantha (5-4) L: M. Schang (7-4)

10
Winner Hope HOPE 20-9
6
Adrian ADRIAN 18-8
Winner
Hope HOPE
20-9
10
Final
6
Adrian ADRIAN
18-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hope HOPE 0 0 0 3 3 2 2 10 14 0
Adrian ADRIAN 1 2 0 0 3 0 0 6 11 2

W: Vermeesch, Samantha (6-4) L: A. Patton (10-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | Alan Babbitt

Softball Sets Stolen Base Record, Takes Two Games from Adrian

The MIAA-leading Hope College softball team swiped one school record for stolen bases and two important wins on Friday.

The Flying Dutch remained unbeaten in MIAA play by defeating third-place Adrian College, 5-1 and 10-6, at Wolters Softball Stadium.

During the doubleheader, Hope stole seven bases to give the Flying Dutch 102 on the season, cruising past the 2013 record of 97. Ten regular-season games remain, too.

Entering Friday, Hope ranked 11th in NCAA Division III in stolen bases. The Flying Dutch have been caught stealing only six times all season, including once against Adrian.

"I think we're realizing how great it can be to steal bases and how much fun it can be," head coach Michelle Brander Metiva said. "We're still developing a trust in ourselves to read the ball and take the base. We have a ton of natural, God-given speed, and they're using it. We're trying to create chaos."

Hope (20-8, 6-0 MIAA) stole four bases during Game 2 against Adrian.

In the top of the third, the Flying Dutch evened the score at 3-3 on a two-run single from senior first baseman Jennaka Bultman (Shawnee, Kansas / Shawnee Mission HS). A two-run Adrian error in the fourth pushed Hope ahead 6-3.

Adrian (18-8, 4-4 MIAA) tied the score at 6-6, but the Flying Dutch responded with two runs in the sixth on back-to-back RBI hits from senior centerfielder Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids) and sophomore rightfielder Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian).

With reliever Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca) shutting out Adrian to close the game, Hope extended its lead with a two-run single. Bultman drove in the first run of the rally with a groundout. Senior second baseman Kyra Acker (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids) followed with an RBI single.

"It's their composure that's keeping them in games," Brander said. "I think we're getting better at practices, and they feel that. I think they see us keep getting better, even in the small things, and it keeps building confidence. They know if we do get down to stay calm, stay in their at-bats and good things will happen."

DeMann and freshman catcher Sophie Stironek (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) collected three hits apiece.

Vermeesch (6-4) fired three scoreless innings after throwing a complete game in Game 1. The righthander allowed two hits while striking out two.

In the opener, Vermeesch held Adrian to one sixth-inning run on five hits while striking out five.

Hope provided Vermeesch all the run support she needed by striking for three runs in the bottom of the first.

Freshman third baseman Eliana Ruhrup (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan) laced a two-run double to start the rally. Junior shortstop Mady Pahl (Beaverton, Michigan / Beaverton) later stroked an RBI single.

The Flying Dutch added single runs in the third and the sixth.

Hope returns to action on Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at Kalamazoo College.

 
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