by Kirstin Anderson

Shortstop Savannah Dixon delivered three RBI doubles to help power the Hope College softball team to a 4-1 and 5-4 sweep at Adrian College on Saturday.

The Flying Dutch advanced their record to 17-7 overall and a third-place 5-3 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings.

The first game saw significant Hope action in early innings, with scoring once in the first and three times in the third.

Second baseman Arinn King of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) kicked things off for the Dutch with an RBI single.

King, who finished the game with three hits, knocked in designated player Shay Pinhey after the senior from Ann Arbor, Michigan (Pioneer) led off the game with a double to center.

Dixon started the third-inning rally with an RBI double in the top of the third to send home Pinhey.

First baseman Kaelin Callow of Plainfield, Illinois (Plainfield) added a sacrifice fly. Dixon then scored on an Adrian throwing error.

Winning pitcher Chloe Haskins (7-3) scattered five hits and one run on a sole homer over five innings of work. The freshman right-hander from Brighton, Michigan (Brighton) struck out three.

Freshman Avery Slancik of Scotts, Michigan (Vicksburg) tossed two scoreless innings for her third save.

The second game saw Adrian (15-15, 3-7 MIAA) jump out to a 3-0 lead with a three-run second.

Dixon broke the ice for Hope with an RBI double in the bottom of the third inning that knocked in King. One batter later, Dixon scored on Callow's RBI double.

In the fourth, Pinhey's RBI single sent home pitcher Janelle Baar of Byron Center, Michigan (Byron Center) home with the tying run.

Hope and Adrian traded runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. Dixon drove home King with the winning run in the sixth.

Baar (5-1) allowed just two hits and one run over four innings of relief to claim the victory.

The Flying Dutch's next games are Tuesday, April 16 when they host the University of Chicago for a non-league doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.