The Hope College softball team put together a complete day of work on Thursday against Albion College, securing two conference wins.
Under warm conditions at Dempsey Field, the Flying Dutch opened with a 2–0 shutout before following it with an 8–1 victory, improving to 24–8 overall and 7–3 in the MIAA, where they remain in third place behind Trine and Calvin.
Game one belonged to Hope's defense and the unwavering presence of Hailey Mellec, who delivered a complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts and only three hits allowed. Mellec, a junior from Commerce Township, Michigan (Walled Lake Northern HS) controlled the strike zone from the start, retiring 10 of the final 12 batters faced and never letting Albion build momentum.
Hope's breakthrough came in the fifth. Junior Terin Maynard (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Jenison) singled, freshman Emily Brown (Grass Lake, Michigan / Grass Lake) reached on an error, and senior Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian) drove in the first run on a fielder's choice.
Brown then scored on a caught-stealing sequence, giving the Flying Dutch the only cushion they needed behind Mellec's command.
Offensively, Maynard and Brown each reached and scored in the decisive fifth inning, with Brown adding two stolen bases to pressure Albion's defense. Sophomore Becca Tuttle (Grand Rapids, Michigan / West Catholic) and senior Gianna Kerschbaum (Baroda, Michigan / Stevensville-Lakeshore) each contributed a hit, helping Hope generate steady baserunners in a tight, low-scoring contest.
The second game unfolded with a more balanced and consistent offensive rhythm. Hope struck early with two runs in the first inning, added two more in the third, and steadily widened the gap with a three-run sixth that put the game out of reach.
Brown was central to the attack, reaching base four times and driving in three runs, including a two-run double down the left-field line in the sixth.
Junior Sophie Stironek (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) added two hits and an RBI, while DeMann and Maynard contributed key swings that kept Hope in control throughout.
Brown led the offense, finishing 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBI, two walks, and two stolen bases.
Stironek added two hits and an RBI, while DeMann and Maynard each delivered run-producing moments during Hope's multi-inning scoring stretch.
In the circle, Kerschbaum earned her 12th win with four innings of one-run work, and freshman Ryan Quain (St. Claire, Michigan / Marysville) closed the final three frames with three strikeouts and no runs allowed, securing the sweep with a composed relief outing.
The Flying Dutch host their final home doubleheader on Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. against Adrian College.
