WOMEN’S SOCCER
Freshman forward Natalie Hammer highlighted a dominant performance for the Hope College women’s soccer team, scoring back-to-back goals to secure a 3-0 win over Alma College at Van Andel Stadium.
The Flying Dutch improved their record to 2-1-1 overall and in MIAA play.
The Flying Dutch found the spark they needed with 33 minutes remaining in the second half. Hope took a 1-0 lead when freshman defender Madison Holloway of Macatawa, Michigan (Holland Christian) sliced a free-kick into the upper right corner of the net.
With 22 minutes remaining, senior Audrey White of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) flew past a defender down the right sideline, sending the ball into the mix inside the penalty box. After a few bounces, Hammer (Rockford, Michigan/Rockford) connected a perfectly placed backheel goal into the net, catching the goalie by surprise and turning heads in the process.
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
The Hope College women’s track and field team won an astonishing 11 of the 19 events contested at the Albion College Spring Thaw to win the meet by a 165-point margin.
The Dutch scored 267 total points, well ahead of second-place finisher Albion with 102.
Of the seven different student-athletes to pick up individual victories, three topped the field in more than one event. Grace Behrens (Mishawaka, Indiana / Trinity School At Greenlawn), won both the 200 and 400-meter races. The sophomore clocked a 26.06 in the 200 to edge out teammates Amanda Lines (26.50) and Helen Dodge (26.75). Behrens was the only runner in the 400 to come in under the 1-minute mark, lowering her season-best time in the process to 59.29.
MEN’S TENNIS
The Hope College men’s tennis team blanked Olivet College on Friday at the Heeringa-VandePoel Stadium Courts, 9-0.
It is the third league victory against zero losses for the Flying Dutchmen who own a 3-5 overall record.
In singles, Hope did not drop a set to the Comets. At No. 1 singles, sophomore Jacob Burkett of Clarkston, Michigan (Clarkston HS) defeated Olivet’s Donald Doyle, 6-0, 6-1. At No. 2 singles, sophomore Cameron Coates of Stevensville, Michigan (Laurel Springs) recorded a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Olivet’s Benjamin Morrow.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
The Hope College women’s tennis team shut out Olivet College on Friday at the Heeringa-VandePoel Stadium Courts, 9-0.
It is the third league victory against zero losses for the Flying Dutch who also own a 6-2 overall record.
In singles, Hope did not drop a set to the Comets. At No. 1 singles, junior Sydney Jackson of Fort Wayne, Indiana (Carroll) defeated Olivet’s Desiree Luque Pradas, 6-2, 7-5. At No. 2 singles, senior Leah Newhof of Caledonia, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian) topped Olivet’s Emily Foulk, 6-0, 6-0.
SOFTBALL
The Hope College softball team split a pair of one-run games against MIAA opponents on Friday at Wolters Stadium.
The Flying Dutch defeated Alma College, 5-4, before falling to Trine University, 2-1. Hope’s record is now 13-5. Neither of Friday’s outcomes counted toward the MIAA standings.
Against Alma, a four-run fifth inning propelled the Flying Dutch to victory.
Right fielder Cayley Ebeling (Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica HS) started the rally with a leadoff homer. Her second home run of the season tied the score at 2-2. Then, with two outs, Hope struck for three more runs. Junior first baseman Kaelin Callow (Plainfield, Illinois/Plainfield) stroked a go-ahead single to left that plated second baseman Arinn King of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville). It was Callow’s second RBI of the game; she had a run-scoring double in the first.
Against Trine, freshman center fielder Peyton Benjamin (Eaton Rapids, Michigan/Eaton Rapids) tied the score in the top of the sixth on a RBI single that scored junior third baseman Bre Nolan (Metamora, Michigan/Lapeer) from third. Nolan hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a flyout. Trine (17-5) led off the inning with a single and moved the runner to third. The Thunder scored the go-ahead run on a single.
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
The Hope College men’s track and field team took third place at Albion College’s Spring Thaw Invitational. Sophomore Nathan Woolum, pictured, paced the Flying Dutchmen with three top-five finishes, including a win in the 400-meter hurdles.
As a team, Hope placed third overall behind 98 points. Albion won its home meet with a tally of 188, followed by Olivet with 127 points.
Woolum (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan) led the way in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking the only sub-1-minute time of any racer with a new career-best mark of 58.14. Teammate David McHugh (Whitehall, Michigan / Reeths Puffer) finished runner-up behind a time of 1:00.05.
Nathanial Trumble (Granger, Indiana / Trinity School At Greenlawn) earned a pair of podium finishes in the individual events. The junior’s best finish came in the 200 meters, where he placed second behind a time of 22.16. He clocked an 11.47 in the 100 meters; good enough for third place.
BASEBALL
The Hope College baseball team hit four home runs during 10-3 and 9-4 losses to Adrian College on Friday at Boeve Stadium.
The Flying Dutchmen (9-9 overall, 2-4 MIAA) conclude the weekend series on Saturday, April 10 with a 12 p.m. doubleheader at Adrian. First pitch was moved up one hour because of a rainy afternoon forecast there.
Hope homered once during the first game and three times during the second game.
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