The Hope College softball team returns from a successful away series, earning a series sweep of Saint Mary's College with 18-runs on Wednesday. 

The Flying Dutch swept their fourth MIAA doubleheader of the season, defeating the Belles 9-1 in Game 1 and 9-1 in five innings in Game 2. 

Hope is now 23-10 overall and 9-1 in conference play. 

Heading into the top of the fourth in Game 1, Hope only led by one run thanks to an Eliana Ruhrup single to right field that scored senior Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids HS). 

Ruhrup, the freshman from Mattawan, Michigan (Mattawan), secured her second hit of the game in the top of the fourth to get one base, where sophomore Kennedi Pochmara entered the game to pinch run for the third baseman. 

Senior Grace Henry (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) then knocked Pochmara in off of a hit to left field to make it a two-run lead. 

Hope's offense jolted to life in the fifth inning as the Flying Dutch went on to score seven runs in the final three innings to cap their first win of the day. 

Winning pitcher senior Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca) (7-4) worked through five innings, striking out six, helping Hope shut out the Belles in six of seven innings. 

Ruhrup led the Flying Dutch in their 11 hits in Game 1 with three, going three-for-four at the plate with three RBIs. 

Senior Emily Martin (Whitehall, Michigan / Whitehall) and Henry each tallied two hits apiece. 

In Game 2, Hope soared to a four-run lead in the first inning. 

A double from junior Mady Pahl (Beaverton, Michigan / Beaverton) and a Ruhrup single began the scoring. 

Ruhrup singled to send home Benjamin to score, followed by a two-run RBI double to left field by Pahl to score Pochmara and Kate DeMann. 

Freshman catcher Sophie Stironek (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) and Martin added RBIs in the second and third to extend Hope's lead to six. 

An extra-bases hit from Stironek in the fourth along with a single to right field from DeMann sealed the win for the Flying Dutch. 

Winning pitcher Grace Connelly (Grandville, Michigan / Grandville) assisted in the Orange and Blue shutting out the Belles in all but one inning again. 

Connelly (7-1) faced 18 batters in four innings, with just four hits. 

Benjamin, who swiped five total stolen bases in the two games against Saint Mary's, matched the single-season stolen base record set by DeAnn Knoll in 1986. Benjamin's 29 swiped bags this season put her at 55 career stolen bases. 

Hope's next doubleheader is Thursday, April 25, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. against Alma College at Wolters Softball Stadium.