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Hailey Mellec holds a softball in front of her.
Pictured, Hailey Mellec
0
Gust. Adolphus GAC 7-8
2
Winner Hope HOPE 14-5
Gust. Adolphus GAC
7-8
0
Final
2
Hope HOPE
14-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Gust. Adolphus GAC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Hope HOPE 0 0 0 0 0 2 X 2 3 0

W: Mellec, Hailey (7-5) L: Maizie Anderson (1-5)

4
Winner Hope HOPE 14-5
1
Gust. Adolphus GAC 7-8
Winner
Hope HOPE
14-5
4
Final
1
Gust. Adolphus GAC
7-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Hope HOPE 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 6 1
Gust. Adolphus GAC 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 1

W: Kerschbaum, Gianna (7-0) L: Ava Hamsund (4-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Alan Babbitt

Hailey Mellec Strikes Out NCAA Division III-Best 19, Softball Sweeps Gustavus Adolphus

The left-hander breaks a school record held by Sydney Jones

Hailey Mellec delivered a pitching performance for the surging Hope College softball team unlike any seen in NCAA Division III this season on Friday in Eau Claire, Wis.

The left-hander struck out a school-record 19 Gustavus Adolphus College batters in Game 1 and sparked the Flying Dutch to a 2-0 and 4-1 sweep indoors at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Hope now has a 10-game winning streak.

Mellec (Commerce Township, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern) became the fourth softball pitcher at any NCAA level to record at least 19 strikeouts in a game this season and the first from Division III.

The reigning MIAA Softball Pitcher of the Week also passed the 2017 Sydney Jones Hope record of 17 strikeouts. Mellec allowed just two hits and two walks for the Flying Dutch.

The Flying Dutch — who are now 17-5 on the season — needed her dominance in the circle. Gustavus Adolphus starter Maizie Anderson no-hit Hope until the bottom of the sixth when third baseman Terin Maynard (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Jenison) led off with a double.

Two batters later, sophomore catcher Macy Verbeek (Grandville, Mich. / Calvin Christian) smacked a one-out RBI double that drove in Maynard and chased Anderson. Pinch-hitter Sidnee Puffpaff (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota) followed with an RBI double that plated Verbeek.

Mellec struck out the side in the seventh to seal her seventh victory in 12 decisions this season.

In the second game, Hope used another big sixth inning to sweep Gustavus Adolphus (7-9). The Flying Dutch sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring four runs on four hits.

Senior center fielder Kate DeMann (Byron Center, Mich. / South Christian) drew a leadoff walk and scored one batter later on a Gustavus Adolphus fielding error. Maynard brought left fielder Emily Brown (Grass Lake, Mich. / Grass Lake) in from third with a bunt single.

Two batters later, Verbeek bunted home Maynard with the bases loaded. Three batters later, first baseman Sophie Stironek (Lake Orion, Mich. / Lake Orion) singled home pitcher Gianna Kerschbaum (Baroda, Mich. / Stevensville Lakeshore) with two outs.

Like Mellec, Kerschbaum also excelled in the circle, scattering eight strikeouts, eight hits and two walks over a complete game. The right-hander allowed only a seventh-inning RBI single and improved to 7-0 as a pitcher.

Hope next plays on Saturday, April 4, at 10 a.m. Central with a doubleheader against No. 23 Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
 
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