Kalamazoo, MI – The Adrian College baseball team repeat as MIAA Tournament Champions and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with their 8-3 win over Hope College in the MIAA Championship on Saturday.
Adrian scored in the top of the first on an RBI double from AJ Miranda to lead 1-0. In the second inning, the Bulldogs exploded for five runs. Rolando Jimenez, Nic Bruder, and Miranda all singled in runs for Adrian. Linken Hayward added an RBI on a fielder’s choice while David Kedrow drew a bases loaded walk.
Easton Rogers hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to expand the Bulldog lead, 7-0. Hope scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings to make the score 7-2. Adrian scored their final run of the day on a sacrifice fly to lead 8-2. Hope scored their final run in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-3.
Daniel Gutierrez earned the win after throwing 6.2 innings allowing two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Lincoln Lipinski closed the game out of the bullpen. Miranda led the Bulldogs with four hits on the day and two RBIs while Bruder and Jimenez each finished the day with three hits.
The win punched Adrian’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament and will await their opponent and location of the Regionals. The NCAA Division III Baseball Selection Show is today at 12:00 PM EST. The selection show can be seen on NCAA.com.
*Media courtesy of Adrian College Athletics*