HOLLAND, Mich. – It wasn't the way the Adrian College softball team wanted to end their MIAA regular season as they dropped consecutive games for the first time this season as fell to Hope College 7-2 and 8-4. The Bulldogs drop to 33-5 on the season and 11-5 in the conference.

Game one saw the Flying Dutch jump out early in the bottom of the first inning when Hope's leadoff batter Abby Phillips hit a home run off of Adrian starter junior Kelly Eberhardt (Wellington, Ohio/Black River).

Adrian would add a long ball of their own as freshman Katie Dewyre (Pemberville, Ohio/Eastwood) hit her first career home run in the top of the third.

The Flying Dutch added two runs in the third after a leadoff walk followed by a single.

The Bulldogs would pull within one the following inning when freshman Brittany Bertrand (Grand Blanc, Mich./Goodrich) hit a two-out double and was then driven in by a single off the bat of junior Katrina Wotten (Blackstock, Ont./Cartwright).

That would be all the runs Adrian would be able to muster as the Bulldogs were unable to get a runner beyond second base in the final three innings. Hope would tacked on a run in the fourth and three in the fifth, including two on a home run by Emma Page.

In the second game, the Dutch again jumped out to an early lead scoring twice in the first inning. With the bases loaded and only one out, Laura Tjepkema singled to plate both of Hope's runs. Sophomore Jami Shafley (Freeland, Mich./Midland) was able to pitch out of the inning getting the final two outs without anymore damaged done.

Hope added another run in the top of the third. After Shafley was able to induce a double play, she then walked a batter and which was then followed by a single and an Adrian error, allowed the Dutch to increase their lead.

The Bulldogs were able to answer back in the bottom of the inning. After senior Katie Adams (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock) reached second on a Hope error, Dewyre walked to bring up junior Sarah Hall (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon). Hall would then single, scoring Adams. After a single by senior Kristin Toney (Cassopolis, Mich./Edwardsburg), junior Laura Heinz (Manchester, Mich./Clinton) stepped in and delivered for Adrian tying the game with a two-RBI single. After Heinz advanced to second on the throw to retire Toney at third, she advanced to third on a wild pitch. Bertrand grounded out to second base, allowing Heinz to score from third giving Adrian their first lead of the day.

Adrian's lead would be short lived as Hope would tie the game in the fourth. The leadoff batter reached base on an error and was then sacrificed to second. The runner would come around to score on an RBI single. The Dutch would take the lead in the fifth after the connecting on three consecutive singles. Eberhardt came on in relief of Shafley to get the final three outs of the innings.

Adrian had their chance to pull ahead in the bottom of the inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. After a leadoff double by Heinz, Bertrand and sophomore Amara Karapas (Saline, Mich./Saline) had back-to-back singles to load the bases. However, the Hope pitcher was able to get the next three Adrian batters to groundout to end the inning.

Hope would add to their lead in the sixth after two, two-out walks resulted in an RBI single to put runners on the corners. An infield single loaded the bases and was followed by a walk to plate another run. An RBI groundout would round out the scoring for the Dutch.

Eberhardt and Shafley split time in the dirt circle in both games. Eberhardt finished the day going seven and a third innings with nine strikeouts while giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits. Shafley allowed five runs (three earned) in five and two thirds innings while striking out five batters.

Wotten led the Bulldogs in game one going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Heinz led Adrian at the plate in game two with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBI's and a run scored. Toney was 3-for-7 at the plate on the day. Adams was 2-for-7 on the afternoon with a run while Hall went 2-for-6 with an RBI and a run. Bertrand hit 2-for-5 on the day with a run and an RBI.

The sweep by Hope was the first time that Adrian has dropped both regular season games to the Flying Dutch since 2007. Hope now leads the all-time series 27-45-1.

Adrian will wrap-up their regular season as they travel to Rochester College on April 29 for a 3:30pm doubleheader.