Swiftly and forcefully, the Hope College baseball team took care of business on a bright but chilly spring afternoon at Boeve Baseball Stadium.

The MIAA-leading Flying Dutchmen erupted for 30 runs in 14 innings on Saturday to sweep a doubleheader from Albion College and secure a fifth league-series victory in as many tries this season.

Battling a strong northwest wind and temperatures hovering in the high-30s, Hope toppled the Britons, 15-2 and 15-5, in a pair of games shortened to seven innings apiece because of the 10-run rule. The Flying Dutchmen avenged a 13-8 loss in the series opener at Albion and reclaimed sole possession of first place in the MIAA standings.

With a 12-3 league record, Hope is one game ahead of second-place Kalamazoo College (11-4) and 1 1/2 games ahead of third-place Adrian College (10-4).

There are two MIAA series remaining in the regular season. The Flying Dutchmen face Adrian in their next one on Friday-Saturday, April 26-27.

On Saturday, Hope scored in double figures for the second consecutive MIAA doubleheader and now has reached that mark six times in the past seven games.

The opener saw the Flying Dutchmen jump to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Senior catcher Andrew Pickett (Carmel, Indiana / Brebeuf Jesuit Prep HS) opened the scoring with a one-out, RBI single. Two batters later, sophomore rightfielder Charlie Saul (Batavia. Illinois / Batavia) smacked a two-out, three-run double.

Hope produced runs in each of the next four innings and pushed its lead to 14-0 before a two-run Albion sixth.

During a five-run fourth, sophomore designated hitter Cade Seabaugh (Ballwin, Missouri / Ladue Horton) hammered a solo homer — his team-leading fourth home run of the season. Pickett followed with a two-run double. Senior centerfielder Robbie Stuursma (East Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) then blasted a two-run homer — his third of the season.

The Flying Dutchmen outhit Albion, 14-8. Senior second baseman Nolan Gardner (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids) and Stuursma finished with a team-leading three hits apiece.

Winning pitcher Trent Johnson (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) went the distance to raise his record to 5-4. The righthander struck out nine and walked one.

In Game 2, Hope scored three times in each of the first three innings and never trailed against Albion (14-18, 6-9).

Seabaugh finished with three RBIs after a first-inning sacrifice fly and added a two-run single in the second.

Senior first baseman Owen Krizan (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) slugged a three-run homer in the third to give the Flying Dutchmen a 9-2 lead. It was Krizan's second home run of the season.

Krizan, who also doubled, went 2-for-3 with two walks and a team-leading four runs scored.

Junior third baseman Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland) recorded a team-leading three of Hope's 12 hits.

Winning pitcher Graham O'Gorman (Champaign, Illinois / Champaign Central) scattered four runs (three earned) and three hits over five innings of work. Albion finished with five hits.

O'Gorman, who improved to 2-4, walked four and struck out two. 

Hope's next game is a non-league contest with Grace Christian University on Tuesday, April 24, at 4 p.m. at Boeve Stadium.