The Hope College baseball team continued its Florida trip with a competitive doubleheader against the University Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Tuesday, taking the opener, 9-7, but a four-run 10th inning powered Pointers to an 8-4 victory in the second game.
The Flying Dutchmen (5-9) came alive early, breaking the first game open with a seven-run second inning. Hope capitalized on timely hitting and aggressive base running, giving the Flying Dutchmen enough cushion to withstand a late push from Stevens Point.
Freshman Colton Kinnie (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Birmingham Seaholm HS) slugged a three-run homer in the second inning highlighted a rally that totaled just three hits for seven runs.
Stevens Point chipped away with a four-run bottom of the fifth, closing the gap to 9-6, but Hope's pitching staff held strong down the stretch.
Offensively, Kinnie led the charge with two hits and four RBIs, while senior Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland) and freshman Gabe Starks (Fort Wayne, Indiana / Carroll) each contributed two RBIs. The Flying Dutchmen also showcased their speed on the bases, swiping four stolen bases.
Junior Nic Bender (Caledonia, Michigan / Caledonia) earned his second win on the season, pitching four hitless innings in relief while striking out two.
Josiah Long recorded his second save of the season, closing out the final 2.2 innings. The freshman from Newaygo, Michigan (Newaygo) allowed just one hit and struck out two.
Game two brought a gritty battle, with both teams exchanging blows before Stevens Point (3-4) erupted for a four-run 10th.
Hope battled back after finding itself in an early 3-1 hole after three innings. The Flying Dutchmen came alive in the bottom of the sixth, putting together a three-run rally to take a 4-3 lead.
Stevens Point responded immediately, tying the game in the top of the seventh to force extra innings.
Both teams remained locked in a stalemate through nine innings, with neither side able to break through.
In the top of the 10th, Stevens Point finally broke the deadlock, stringing together four runs to earn the win.
Junior Jace DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian), sophomore Elliott Peter (Zionsville, Indiana / Zionsville), and Money each recorded two hits.
Freshman Steve Jorgens (Macomb, Michigan / Dwight D. Eisenhower) struck out four batters over two innings while allowing just two hits.
Hope returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 19, in Lake Myrtle, Florida, taking on Illinois Institute of Technology at 9:30 a.m. and the University of Chicago at 1:30 p.m.
