Saint Mary's drops weekend doubleheader to Hope
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
Saturday was a study in contrast for the Saint Mary's Belles and the Hope Flying Dutch in all aspects but one.
In a doubleheader at Hope, the Flying Dutch finished victorious twice.
Hope (10-6, 4-0 MIAA) controlled the opener from the beginning, finishing the game with a 6-0 victory. Pitcher Kim Grotenhuis (5-3) dominated, shutting out Saint Mary's and giving up only two hits to Belles' hitters.
"She was pretty quick and we just couldn't hit her," senior pitcher Anne Senger said.
Six hits were enough to bring six Hope players across home plate. Hope's Carrie Scott hit back-to-back two run homers, finishing the game 3-3, with four RBIs and nine total bases. Belles pitcher Kristin Martin took the loss while Grotenhuis picked up the win.
While the first game may have played out to an inevitable ending, game two kept fans on the edge of their seats. Although the Belles dropped the second game 8-7, they proved they were contenders.
"The first game we weren't in it, but the second game was a really good game," Senger said. "We were down a couple of times and we came back and kept on hitting and if we hadn't of had so many errors we would have the game."
Hope pitching may have dominated in game one, filled in by good hitting, but game two proved to be more of a struggle for the Flying Dutch, as they scored several runs on Saint Mary's errors and served up several homeruns.
Hope came out with an early 1-0 lead that didn't last long. In the third inning Libby Wilhelmy and Katrina Tebbe smacked homeruns putting the Belles on top. Tebbe' grand slam led to a 5-1 Saint Mary's lead.
"We hit really well," Senger said.
Hope battled back in an error-filled fifth inning bringing putting the Flying Dutch back on top, 6-5.
Hope took out starting pitcher Andrea Adams and put in Grotenhuits, hoping she could once again shut down Saint Mary's hitters and claim the win for the Flying Dutch. No such luck.
Saint Mary's Rachel Deer came in a hit a two-run homer off of Grotenhuis to put the Belles ahead 7-6.
In the seventh, Hope scored twice more on a walk, a stolen base, a hit and two errors to claim the win.
The two losses leave the Belles with a 9-12 record (1-5 MIAA). They will next face off against Calvin at home Tuesday.
All Sports Stories for Monday, April 9, 2001
