By Mitch Blankespoor
HOLLAND, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Hope College 10-0 in game one and 11-0 (five innings) in game two. The doubleheader was the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opener for both teams.
In game one, freshman pitcher Eric DuRoss took the loss in game one surrendering 10 runs in 6.1 innings pitched. The Onsted native had just a 0.50 earned run averaged on the season coming into the game.
"I was really happy with how she [DuRoss] threw for us," Kalamazoo Head Coach Sue Mattice said. "Even into the seventh inning, Erin was still pitching well. Our defense just struggled behind her."
Kalamazoo totaled three hits in the game, two of which came in the first inning. Hope pitcher Natalie Hiser got out of the jam without giving up a run.
Hope scored three runs in the second inning and tacked on another run in the fourth. The Hornets hung tough as neither team scored in the next two innings.
Hope blew the game open in the seventh scoring six runs on five hits. Kalamazoo did get its third hit of the game in the home half of the inning but failed to score.
In game two, Kalamazoo again got multiple runners on in the first inning but failed to score. Junior pitcher Taylor Clements took the loss allowing six earned runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Sophomore Paige Maguire had Kalamazoo's only hit in the game.
"We were getting the bat on the ball at the beginning of each game," Mattice said. "We couldn't pull off the hit at the right time. This gives us some things to work on."
Kalamazoo drops to 5-7 on the season and 0-2 in MIAA play. The Hornets return to action tomorrow (Sunday), April 6 for a doubleheader against defending MIAA champions Trine University.