Abigail Meder
WOMEN’S GOLF
Head coach Greg Stafford is quick to say his team has a long way to go, but the Hope College women’s golf team is one stroke closer to its final destination of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association title.
The Flying Dutch captured the third MIAA Jamboree of the season on Saturday with a round of 330 at Milham Park Golf Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Saint Mary’s College and Calvin University each finished with a 334 to tie for second.
It was Hope’s second jamboree win of the week. Now, after three rounds, the Flying Dutch are in first place overall with 968 strokes while Saint Mary’s is one stroke back at 969. Calvin is third with 984 strokes.
The Flying Dutch were led by senior Abigail Meder (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Catholic Central), pictured right, who tied for second place individually at the Jamboree with a round of 80. Meder is also currently tied for second place in the league standings with a stroke average of 77.7.
Also in the top-ten on Saturday was junior Megan Jenkinson (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City West HS) who shot an 82, good for sixth place individually on the day, as well as for fifth place in the overall league standings with 80.0 stroke average.
MEN’S GOLF
Brian Marx found his target often for the Hope College men’s golf team on Saturday at Lenawee Country Club.
The freshman from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (Bloomfield HS) fired an even-par 71 amid windy conditions to claim medalist honors at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jamboree in Adrian, Michigan.
Marx, pictured, helped the Flying Dutchmen finish runner-up with a team score of 303. Hope came in eight strokes behind first-place Trine University.
Hope leapfrogged Calvin into second place in the overall standings after 36 holes. The Flying Dutchmen lead third-place Calvin by five strokes and trail first-place Trine by 18.
SOFTBALL
The Hope College softball team was victorious on each end of the competition spectrum on Saturday with one extra-inning win and one game-shortened win in its doubleheader at Olivet College on Saturday. And pitcher Avery Slancik, pictured right, played a major role in each.
The Flying Dutch defeated the Comets in eight innings in Game 1, 9-8, and needed just five innings to invoke the mercy rule with an 11-0 win in Game 2.
Hope is now 10-4 overall and 6-0 in the MIAA. Olivet falls to 0-10 overall and 0-6 in the league.
Slancik came into pitch the final two innings in relief in the first game and got the victory after facing seven batters, giving up one hit and striking out one. In the second game, the junior from Scotts, Michigan (Vicksburg HS) pitched the shutout in allowing just two hits and again fanning one.
BASEBALL
With the tying run on second base in extra innings, reliever Dane Martin saved the day for the Hope College baseball team.
The right-hander from New Baltimore, Michigan (L’Anse Creuse North HS) retired both batters he faced to secure a 4-3 victory in eight innings in Game 2 of a non-league doubleheader at Milwaukee School of Engineering on Saturday.
Hope rebounded from a 4-3 walk-off loss in Game 1. The Flying Dutchmen are now 9-6 on the season.
Martin earned his second save of the season by recording a popout and a flyout. The junior took over junior reliever and winning pitcher Graham O’Connor of Champaign, Illinois (Central), who gave up one earned run in two innings on the mound.
Hope snapped a 3-3 tie with an unearned run in the top of the eighth. Third baseman Joey Merucci (Northville Township, Michigan/Detroit Catholic Central) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by catcher Caleb Regan (Grand Rapids, Michigan/Byron Center).
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