Hope College softball rallies to beat Calvin, split doubleheader
HOLLAND - The Hope College softball team split the day after a comeback win in game one against Calvin University on Thursday, winning 5-4, before dropping the finale 6-5.
A sunny, warm afternoon had the Flying Dutch hosting the softball version of The Rivalry, with both games providing many thrilling ups and downs for the packed Wolters Stadium.
Hope is now 16-10-1 on the season, and moves to 2-2 in league play, good enough for fourth in the MIAA standings currently.
In game one, Calvin struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but Hope quickly answered back in the bottom of the second.
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Junior Sydney Zombo (Clinton Township, Michigan / Fraser HS) led off the inning with a walk, and senior Haley Bennett (Livonia, Michigan / Benjamin Franklin) followed up with a scorching double down the right field line, advancing Zombo to third.
Junior Grace Henry (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) then hit a ground out, allowing Zombo to score and tie the game.
In the bottom of the third, junior Emily Martin (Whitehall, Michigan / Whitehall) and sophomore Kyra Acker (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids) executed two perfect bunts to move runners into scoring position, setting up an RBI single for junior Lexi Potapczak (Naperville, Illinois / Benet Academy) and giving Hope a 2-1 lead.
The game continued to be a back-and-forth battle, with Calvin scoring three runs in the top of the sixth inning, including a two-run home run.
However, Hope refused to back down, and Bennett reached base on an error in the bottom of the sixth, eventually finding herself on second base.
With the game on the line, senior Cayley Ebeling (Shelby Township, Michigan / Utica) stepped up to the plate and sent a towering two-run home run over the fence, giving Hope the lead and ultimately securing a thrilling 5-4 comeback win.
Seven different Flying Dutch players recorded a hit in the game, while Bennett and Henry extended their hit streaks to seven games.
Junior Samantha Vermeesch (Ithaca, Michigan / Ithaca) entered the circle in relief and picked up the win, improving to 10-3 on the season with a solid two innings of work, including one hit and one strikeout.
In game two, Hope found themselves trailing 6-2 in the top of the fifth inning, but Martin hit a ground out RBI and Acker followed up with a single to second base, sending in two runs for Hope, putting them within striking distance at 6-4.
Then, both junior Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan / Eaton Rapids) and Martin got on base on Calvin outfielder errors, allowing two runs to score and bringing Hope within one run, 6-5.
Hope had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning with two hits, but Calvin's defense held strong, securing the 6-5 victory.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hope College softball rallies to beat Calvin, split doubleheader
