By Mark DeHaan

Calvin baseball hosted Hope College on Monday in a rescheduling of a pair of games that were supposed to be played Saturday.

The Knights played just one game, with the second game postponed due to darkness. Despite leading 5-0 heading into the seventh inning, Calvin dropped the lone game 14-7.

Calvin built the 5-0 lead over six strong innings of pitching from senior Nate Schepers. Sophomore Colton Wolfe hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to open the scoring for the Knights.

In the fourth, freshman Nate DeZwaan hit a sacrifice fly to bring in another run, putting Calvin ahead 3-0.

Senior Grant VanPutten then began the bottom of the sixth inning with an inside-the-park home run. Three batters later, senior Peter Cupery hit a single to right field to score another, bringing the score to 5-0 to begin the seventh and final inning.

In the seventh, Calvin's pitching and defense unraveled.

The Knights walked six Hope batters, hit three others, and allowed seven hits as the Flying Dutchmen plated 14 runs to take a 14-5 lead over Calvin.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wolfe began with a single, and was then brought in by the next batter, Cupery, who hit a home run to left-center field.

The two runs is all the Knights scored in the seventh, and Hope held on to a 14-7 win.

Cupery finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored, while Wolfe was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. VanPutten finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

On the mound, Schepers pitched 6.0 innings, striking out six while allowing three runs.

Calvin drops to 5-11 overall and 1-6 in the MIAA. The Knights and Flying Dutchmen will play the second game tomorrow at Hope College's Boeve Stadium. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.