Angola, IN – The Adrian College softball team downed No. 5 nationally ranked Trine University 8-7 on Thursday in the MIAA Tournament, advancing to Friday’s Championship game. The upset snapped Trine’s 28-game winning streak.
Adrian tied the game in the bottom of the second when Peyton Russell launched a solo home run, her 12th of the season.
The Bulldogs erupted for six runs in the third inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double from Hailey DeChalk. Russell followed with an RBI double, and Maggie Leveille capped the inning with a two-run homer to give Adrian a 7-1 lead.
The Thunder fought back, scoring two runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to even the score at 7-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, Taylor Gerhardt delivered a clutch RBI single to put the Bulldogs back in front, 8-7, a lead they would hold for the win.
Macee Schang started in the circle, allowing just one run over four innings. Abbi Patton pitched 1.2 innings in relief, and Avery Clark closed it out with 1.1 shutout innings to earn the win.
The Bulldogs will make their first appearance in the MIAA Championship game since 2013 and are set for a rematch against Trine. In the double-elimination format, Adrian needs one win to claim the title, while Trine must win twice. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM today in Angola, Indiana.
Adrian, MI – The Adrian College baseball team faced elimination on Thursday afternoon after dropping game one of the MIAA Tournament the day before. The No. 1 seeded Bulldogs faced No. 2 Calvin to start the day and kept their hopes alive with a 5-1 victory. Adrian went on to shutout Alma, 3-0, in the afternoon game to return to the MIAA Tournament Championship.
With AC down 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th inning, Easton Rogers hit a grand slam to left field to lead 4-1. Later in the inning, Jaxon McGuigan had an RBI double to extend the lead to 5-1.
Landon Kozlowski got the start on the mound tossing 4.2 innings allowing one run on nine hits. Griffin Firestine earned the win in relief after throwing 3.2 scoreless innings. Ryan Davis earned a save on the day marking the 14th of his career to set a new Adrian College career save record.
In game two vs. Alma, Adrian jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after an RBI groundout by Daniel Shipman.
It took until the seventh inning for Adrian to strike again when Nic Bruder singled in a run on a bunt single followed by a single to left field by Ryan Davis to lead 3-0.
Adrian pitching held the Scotts offense to just two hits. Hudson native Ambrose Horwath finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched in the win allowing no runs on two hits. Adrian product Sean Parker earned the save with 3.1 innings pitched in relief.
The Bulldogs return to the MIAA Tournament Championship game today where they will face No. 4 seeded Kalamazoo College. Adrian will need to win two games in order to claim the MIAA Tournament Championship. First pitch is scheduled for 12PM with Ian Wendt on 96.5fm The Cave.
*media courtesy of Adrian College Athletics*