The Hope College softball team kicked off the season splitting the day at the Millikin University (Illinois) Softball Invitational on Friday.
The Flying Dutch defeated the University of Wisconsin-Stout, 12-4, in five innings before falling to Millikin, 8-5.
Against UW-Stout, the Flying Dutch used a powerful first half inning to quickly jump ahead of the Blue Devils, 6-0.
Freshman Jalen Fossitt (Onondaga, Michigan / Leslie HS) started the scoring frenzy with an RBI triple to center.
Sophomore Macy Verbeek (Grandville, Michigan / Calvin Christian) sent a two-run single up the middle, while freshman Abby Whorton (Watervliet, Michigan / Watervliet) added a two-run double to left-center.
Junior Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) completed the rally by singling to center field and knocking in Whorton.
DeMann led Hope with three hits in four at-bats, and in stolen bases, with three.
Fossitt picked up two hits in three at-bats for Hope and finished with two RBIs.
Sophomore Eliana Ruhrup (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan) connected for two hits, collecting two RBIs in the first game of the day.
Winning pitcher Gianna Kerschbaum (Baroda, Michigan / Stevensville-Lakeshore) earned the win after pitching the first three innings, striking out four and allowing just two hits.
Against Millikin, the Orange and Blue traded runs in the first inning with the host school.
A big, six-hit fourth inning for the Big Blue propelled Millikin ahead, 7-1.
In the Flying Dutch's last at-bat, Ruhrup reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to bring the score to 8-3. With runners on the corners, Verbeek sent a rocket to left center for a triple, scoring pinch runner junior Mya Spisz (Oxford, Michigan / Oxford) and Fossitt.
Millikin spoiled the comeback, retiring the final Hope batter and the game with a fly out to left field.
Verbeek led Hope in hits, going 3-for-3 at the plate.
Three players had two hits apiece for the Flying Dutch: sophomore Kenadee Schnick (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison), Kerschbaum, and sophomore Lilly Iden (Oxford, Ohio / Talawanda).
Hope finishes out the Millikin Softball Invitational on Saturday, March 8, with two more games: against Hanover College at 9 a.m. CT and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, ranked No. 22 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's poll, at 11:30 a.m. CT.