A sweep on Saturday for the Hope College softball team featured a few career-highs and, most important, the clinching of the No. 3 seed in next week's Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament.
The Flying Dutch won at Adrian 5-1 and 10-7 to secure sole possession of third place in the MIAA standings.
Hope (22-16 overall), finished league play with an 11-5 record. The Flying Dutch will face second-seeded Trine in the MIAA semifinals on Thursday at top-seeded Alma.
Hope advances to the MIAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and the 23rd time overall.
In Game 1, winning pitcher Sydney Jones of South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon East HS) broke her own school record with 14 strikeouts. The sophomore righthander fanned 12 at Kalamazoo on April 13.
Jones (7-9) scattered five hits and three walks over seven innings in her 10th complete game. She has a career-high 124 strikeouts, second-most in team history behind Andrea Adams' 156 in 2002.
Centerfielder Autumn Anderson of Dorr, Michigan (Wayland HS) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, including a RBI triple.
Shortstop Jenna Maury of Lawton, Michigan (Lawton HS) added two doubles. The Flying Dutch scored all of their runs after the fourth inning.
Maury delivered again in Game 2. She went 4-for-4 with a career-high five RBI.
Maury's three-run homer keyed a four-run fourth that gave the Flying Dutch an 8-7 lead. It was her first home run of the season.
Anderson went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Third baseman Katrina Ellis of Goodrich, Michigan (Goodrich HS) added two hits and two runs scored.
Leftfielder Noelle Jackson of Grand Blanc, Michigan (Grand Blanc HS) hit a solo blast for her first career home run.
Reliever Katie Singer of Howell, Michigan (Hartland HS0 tossed 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Singer (4-3) did not allow a hit and walked only one batter.
