KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College baseball team began the MIAA Tournament with a home game against Hope on Wednesday afternoon (May 10). The Hornets jumped out in front and fought off a comeback attempt by the Flying Dutchmen, winning 12-7. This win improves Kalamazoo's record to 31-9, tying the 2017 team for the most single-season wins in program history.
After Hope scored the game's first run in the first inning, Kalamazoo scored six straight with a run in the first, two in the second, and three in the third. Lukas Bolton started his big day with an RBI single to tie the game up, bringing in Cooper Mills. Then, Mills got an RBI of his own in the second on a single, and Logan Lockhart also came in on a wild pitch as the Hornets took a two-run lead. Finally, the lead grew to 6-1 as Cam Kelly drove in two on a double to right field, and Lockhart snuck a single through the right side for an RBI as well.
Starting pitcher Thomas Sylvester only allowed one run, but was navigating runners through his three and two-thirds innings. He allowed six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Jacob Davis came in for Sylvester as the Flying Dutchmen lineup was about to see him for a third time and got the final out of the fourth, leaving a runner stranded.
Davis (5-4) got the win after going three and a third innings in relief, allowing four runs on four hits and a walk in the sixth inning. However, he returned to throw a scoreless seventh and ended up with two strikeouts. Kalamazoo regained the five-run lead with four runs in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third, Robert Newland singled to center field for an RBI, and then Tanner Hawkins came in to score on a safety squeeze bunt by Kelly. Newland eventually scored on a balk, and Kelly crossed the plate after Mills shot a single into right field.
The Hornets scored two more runs in the eighth on another RBI single by Bolton, and then David Stechow scored on a fielder's choice. Brenden Oprinski pitched the final two innings, allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout.
Bolton went 3-4 with two RBI, while Mills, Newland, and Lockhart also had multi-hit games. Kelly led the team with three RBI as Mills and Newland also had two RBI each. Hawkins reached base three times on a hit and two walks, with Ryar Rinehart, Newland, and Kelly each collecting a double for Kalamazoo's extra-base hits.
Kalamazoo will advance to the winner's bracket of the MIAA Tournament and will face Alma on Thursday (May 11) back at Woodworth Field, beginning at 10 a.m.