Holland, Mich. - The Alma College baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at Hope College on Friday (March 24) afternoon as the Scots opened play in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Alma is now 2-12 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA, while the Dutch improve to 9-3 and 2-0 in the conference.

Junior Ben Finzel (Saginaw, Mich./Swan Valley/USC Salkehatchie) hit .375 and recorded three hits in the two-game set, while freshman Max Trucks (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant/Davenport) went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Seniors Greg Goffee (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) and Alex Peczynski (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central) both tallied a pair of hits, while Peczynski and senior Patrick Finn (Allenton, Mich./Almont) posted 2 RBIs each.

The Scots will close out the series with the Flying Dutchmen on Monday, March 27, with a doubleheader at Klenk Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Game 1 - at Hope 7, Alma 2 (7 innings)

Ben Finzel went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the Scots suffered a loss in their MIAA opener.

Alma took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Adam Thoryk (Syracuse, N.Y./John C. Birdlebough/St. John Fisher) scored on a sacrifice fly by Patrick Finn, but the Dutch responded with seven straight scores to build up a 7-1 advantage going into the seventh inning.

In the top of the seventh, Finn walked with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then found his way to third when Nick Swanson grounded out. Finzel singled to score Finn, then was advanced to second after a single by freshman Vann Acker (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) at the next at-bat. Poised to close the gap with Hope, both were left stranded when Alex Peczynski popped out to end the game.

Junior Eric Frontzak (Naperville, Ill./Montini Catholic) was given his first loss of the season and threw 4.2 innings, giving up six runs and eight hits while striking out seven batters. He was replaced in the fifth inning by sophomore Bailey O'Keefe (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek), who threw 1.1 innings and allowed only one hit.

Game 2 - at Hope 5, Alma 4 (10 innings)

Hope scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to erase a four-run deficit and force extra innings, then scored on a fielder's choice after putting runners on first and third in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Freshman Josh Riggs (Irons, Mich./Brethren) worked seven innings on the mound for the Scots, striking out seven, while freshman Ben Blake (Sanford, Mich./Meridian) took the loss after replacing Riggs in the eighth inning. Greg Goffee and Max Trucks each had a pair of hits, while Alex Peczynski tallied two RBIs.

Alma jumped out to a 4-0 lead, scoring three runs in the top of the second and adding another in the top of the third. Peczynski hit a double to score junior Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate) and Trucks, then was sent home on a single to left field by freshman Jaret Koin (Sterling, Mich./Standish-Sterling). Trucks made it 4-0 after he got on base with a two-out single, then was sent home with a single by Patrick Finn.