Holland, Mich. - Opening play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Alma College baseball team split a doubleheader with the Hope College Flying Dutchmen on Saturday (March 26) at Boeve Stadium. Hope won the first game, 9-1, while the Scots came back to capture the finale by a 7-4 margin.

Game 1 - at Hope 9, Alma 1

The Scots were held to just two hits by Hope pitcher Jake Chipka, who struck out six Alma batters to snap the Scots' eight-game winning streak.

After Hope built a 7-0 lead through five innings, Alma scored its only run of the game in the top of the sixth when senior David Carles (Staten Island, N.Y./Petrides/College of Staten Island) crossed home after an RBI single by senior Yoan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y./Morris/Monroe College).

Senior Phil Jock (Memphis, Mich./Memphis) took the loss after giving up six earned runs in four innings. Jock also registered three strikeouts.

The Dutch added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the victory.

Game 2 - Alma 7, at Hope 4

Sophomore Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate) went 4-for-6, while Carles was 3-for-5 as the Scots came from behind to split the doubleheader. Junior Alex Valasek (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) went the distance on the mount for Alma to pick up his third win of the year.

Hope took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first before Carles hit a three-run homer to left field in the top of the fourth inning to put Alma ahead, 4-3. The Dutch came right back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead with a 4-3 advantage after four stanzas.

In the top of the sixth inning, Carles scored after a fielder's choice by senior Doug Walters (Brighton, Mich./Brighton), then Minaudo crossed home after a wild pitch to give the Scots a 5-4 lead. Alma added to its advantage in the top of the seventh when Minaudo connected on a two-RBI single to left field to score Carles and junior Alex Peczynski (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central).

Alma (10-3 overall, 1-1 MIAA) will return to Klenk Park on Monday, March 28, to complete the series with Hope (5-6, 1-1). First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.