Alma, Mich. - The Alma College baseball team split a home doubleheader with Hope College on Monday (March 27) afternoon at Klenk Park, closing out the series with a 6-4 victory after being shut out, 3-0, in the first game of the day. The Scots (3-13 overall, 1-3 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) snapped a four-game slide with their Game 2 victory while handing the Flying Dutchmen (10-4, 3-1 MIAA) their first loss in league play.

Hope took the overall series, 3-1, after sweeping Friday's (March 24) doubleheader in Holland.

The Scots return to action on Saturday, April 1, when they host Albion College for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m..

Game 1 - Hope 3, at Alma 0

Senior Alex Valasek (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central)) threw six innings, striking out four batters and holding Hope to just three hits. The Dutchmen opened up the game with a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after JP Batts singled up the middle to score a pair of runs, then added another tally in the top of the third when Mason Opple scored on a passed ball.

The Scots best chance to cut into Hope's lead came in the fourth inning, when Alma loaded the bases with two outs, setting the table for senior Jerome Jackson (Harper Woods, Mich./Harper Woods). Jackson struck out, stranding the trio of runners.

Freshman Matt Scanzano (Oakville, Ontario/Kalamazoo College) took the mound in the seventh inning after Valasek had thrown around 100 pitches, and kept Hope off the board.

Game 2 - at Alma 6, Hope 4

Senior Mike Mallory (Ithaca, Mich./Ithaca) tossed his second career complete game and registered five strikeouts as the Scots picked up their first league win.

Freshman Max Trucks (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Mt. Pleasant/Davenport) went 2-for-3, scored a pair of runs and stole two bases, while junior Ben Finzel (Saginaw, Mich./Swan Valley/USC Saklehatchie) and senior Alex Peczynski (Farmington Hills, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central each tallied a pair of RBIs.

The Scots jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three innings, registering six hits off of Dutch starter Ty Van Wieren. Trucks started the game for the Scots with a double, then was sent home on a single by Finzel. Peczynski added two more runs in the bottom of the first, sending senior Adam Thoryk (Syracuse, Mich./John C. Birdlebough/St. John Fisher) and Finzel home with a double to left centerfield.

Alma added two more in the bottom of the second when Trucks scored again on a throwing error by the shortstop after getting on base with a single, then stealing second. Finzel made it 5-0 when he singled, sending senior Greg Goffee (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) across the plate. The Scots posted their sixth run in the bottom of the third when Peczynski scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate).

Hope cut into the lead in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs, then made it 6-4 in the top of the seventh before the Scots ended the inning with a double play.