Hamilton gets two pitching gems, including no-hitter in sweep of Holland Christian

HAMILTON - The Hamilton softball team has won with its slugging offense so far this season, but against rival Holland Christian, it was two masterful pitching performances that led the Hawkeyes to a sweep.

Kelsey Mersmen pitched a no-hitter in the second game, an 11-0 win. Kianna Vork pitched a two-hitter in a 1-0 win in the opener.

In the second game, Mersman pitched all six innings and struck out 15 while walking one. She allowed no hits or runs.

The opener was a pitcher's duel between Vork and Holland Christian's Kierea Smits.

Vork allowed two hits and one walk in seven innings to earn the complete-game win with 12 strikeouts.

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Smits gave up just one hit and also struck out 12, but an unearned run in the seventh gave the Hawkeyes the victory.

"We were fortunate to get a sweep tonight versus Holland Christian," Hamilton coach Mark Behnke said. "Kierea Smits pitched a great game in the opener for Holland Christian. Kianna Vork matched her pitch for pitch and we were fortunate to manufacture a run in the bottom of the seventh inning."

Offensively in the second game, Vork had three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Taylor Oosterink and Ella Davison each had two hits.

Smits struck out 10 in the second game and gave up seven earned runs.

"In game two, Kelsey Mersman was as good as she's ever been. Besides throwing a no-hitter, she struck out 15 batters in six innings," Behnke said. "Our bats warmed up later in the day, but we had to grind out both games."

BASEBALL

Holland Christian 14, Hamilton 2

The Maroons got ahead early with five runs in the first inning and never looked back.

Parker Leeuw collected three hits in four at bats. He singled in the first, doubled in the fifth, and singled in the seventh inning.

Caden VanHuis and Evan Abberger contributed to the offensive attack with two hits each.

Kyle Smith was 1-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs.On the mound, Hudson Lubbers was solid once again. The senior went the complete game giving up seven hits and two runs. He struck out four and walked one.

For Hamilton, Owen Brown was 3-for-4 with three singles and a run scored. Marc Brower, Gabe Langeland, Breslin Nykamp and Landon VanderZwaag had the other hits.

Clay Blauwkamp started on the mound and took the loss going five innings giving up nine hits and 6 earned runs. He struck out three and walked three. Carter Basinski relieved him for the last two innings, giving up four earned runs, striking out two and walking two.

The second game was halted with the Maroons leading 8-3 and will be completed on Thursday.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Hamilton gets two pitching gems, including no-hitter in sweep of HC