Junior centerfielder Jace DeMann slugged his first home run of the season, but the Hope College baseball team lost the series opener at The University of Olivet, 2-1, on Friday,

The series continues on Saturday, April 12, at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at Boeve Baseball Stadium.

DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian HS) snapped a scoreless tie with a solo blast in the top of the seventh.

Olivet (7-19, 3-6) tied the score in the eighth on a one-out Neal Droste RBI double.

In the ninth, a leadoff single, throwing error, walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third for the Comets. Austin Alflen singled home Mikey Kuzara for the winning unearned run.

Senior Mason Belmore (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) went the distance for the Flying Dutch. The righthander scattered eight hits, two walks and 13 strikeouts over 8.1 innings.

Olivet starter Bryan Carney limited the Flying Dutchmen to three hits, including two singles from freshman designated hitter Colton Kinnie (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Seaholm).