The Hope College softball team delivered a day full of excitement and record-setting performances in the split decision at Adrian College on Wednesday.
The Flying Dutch secured the 7-2 win in the first game of the doubleheader before falling, 16-7, in six innings in the second game.
Hope (16-10, 4-2 MIAA) is currently in second place in the MIAA standings, behind Trine University and ahead of Calvin University with five games remaining in the regular season.
In the opener, sophomore Terin Maynard (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Jenison HS) electrified the game with her speed, swiping five bases to set a new single-game school record. Tara Blacquiere previously held the top stolen bases in a single game, with four against Augsburg University (Minnesota) on March 20, 2000.
As a team, Hope shattered the program's single-game record with 12 stolen bases, with the Orange and Blue previously recording 11 stolen bases as the top mark last season against Sage College (New York).
The Flying Dutch scored in every inning while racking up nine hits.
Freshman Sidnee Puffpaff (Macomb, Michigan / Dakota) led the charge with three hits and an RBI.
Junior Gianna Kerschbaum (Baroda, Michigan / Stevensville-Lakeshore) drove in two runs, while freshmen Jalen Fossitt (Onondaga, Michigan / Leslie) and Mia Vanderheide (Caledonia, Michigan / Jenison International) each contributed two hits.
Sophomore Macy Verbeek (Grandville, Michigan / Calvin Christian) added a hit and an RBI, and freshman Olivia Miller (Hudsonville, Michigan / Unity Christian) recorded a hit as well.
In the circle, winning pitcher Kerschbaum (7-3) pitched four innings and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out four.
Sophomore Hailey Mellec (Commerce Township, Michigan / Walled Lake Northern) picked up where Kerschbaum left off, delivering three stellar innings with only one hit allowed as she faced just 12 batters.
Game 2 posed a tougher challenge for Hope, as Adrian's explosive eight-run second inning created a deficit too large to overcome. The Flying Dutch fought back with a determined offensive performance, collecting 11 hits across the game.
Fossitt chipped in with two hits and an RBI, and six more players each recorded a hit: Puffpaff, Miller, sophomore Sophie Stironek (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion), sophomore Eliana Ruhrup (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan), freshman Mikayla Derks (Saint John, Indiana / Iliana Christian) and Maynard. Kerschbaum and Maynard also finished with two RBIs apiece.
Hope returns to home field play on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m, for a Senior Day doubleheader against Kalamazoo College at 1 p.m. at Wolters Softball Stadium.
