April 28

DOWN ONE, BUT NOT OUT
Adrian in second place after split with Hornets

By Ed Patino
Sports Information Assistant

ADRIAN, Mich. – For the second straight year, the Kalamazoo College Hornets played the role of spoiler.

Yet, the Adrian College Bulldogs are still very much alive in the MIAA title hunt.

After seeing their offense go cold in an 8-6 loss to Kalamazoo in the opener, the Bulldogs fought back for a 6-1 victory in the nightcap, salvaging a doubleheader split before a spirited “graduation weekend” crowd at Riverside Park.

Adrian (20-13,16-6 MIAA) fell one game behind league-leading Hope (25-10, 19-5 MIAA) with two games in hand. The Flying Dutchmen, which completed a four-game sweep of Calvin, has won nine straight league games and 12 of their last 14 overall to gain the upper hand in the MIAA championship race. The reigning two-time defending champion Bulldogs can still score the three-peat if they manage to draw even with Hope in the standings, as Adrian holds all tiebreakers with the Dutchmen after winning the season series 3-1 during the last weekend of March.

The Bulldogs are not on top of the MIAA standing for the first time since March 28. The opening game loss was Adrian’s first setback at home this season.

Kalamazoo (9-23, 6-16 MIAA) grabbed control of the opener with five runs in the top of the third inning, then withstood a late Adrian comeback.

Things started well for the Bulldogs after they stranded three Hornets on base in the top of the first, then grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the frame. Anthony Carr scored on Xander Younce’s fielder’s choice, then Todd Meyers scored on a passed ball. The Hornets answered with two runs in the top of the second, but Nick Sarkissian scored on a double steal in the bottom of the inning, giving Adrian a 3-2 lead.

The Hornets plated all five of their third inning runs with two outs. Taylor Fodor’s RBI single scored Charlie Mackinnion, then Larry Briski scored on a bases-loaded walk. Jeff Leone scored Brandon Luzak with an RBI single and Brian Benjamin’s two-RBI single scored Fedor and Caleb Kent, giving Kalamazoo a 7-3 lead. Luczak added another run in the top of the fourth when his RBI single scored Briski.

Adrian chipped away at the deficit. Alex Cowart scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the frame, then Meyers delivered an RBI double that scored Carr, making it 8-5. Bobby Rickstad’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh scored Ryan Sulek, and put to Bulldogs on base, but a pop out ended the rally.

Carr went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the Bulldogs, while Meyers was 1-for-2 with an RBI and runs scored. Rickstad finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Starter Paul Walters was charged with the pitching loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits and striking out three in 2 2/3 innings. Eric Calkins allowing one run on five hits and struck out two in the remaining 4 1/3 innings.

Four Kalamazoo pitchers combined to scatter six Adrian hits. Starter Justin Warner recorded the win, allowing three runs on three hits in two innings. Kent was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Hornets, while Luczak finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and run.

The Bulldogs righted the ship in the second game, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sarkissian’s RBI single scored Rickstad, then Cowart belted a two-RBI double, scoring Sarkissian and Younce, making it 3-0. Mark Roeder scored on a groundout by Sulek and Cowart made it 5-0 when he scored on a throwing error.

Mike Hackett’s RBI double in the fifth brought home Meyers, giving the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead. The shutout bid ended in the top of the seventh when Mike Morosi’s groundout to second base scored Mackinnion, but a Kalamazoo flyout ended the game.

Alex Webster went the distance on the mound for the win, allowing one run on six hits and striking out two. Cowart finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Hackett also had a hit and RBI. Sarkissian finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored for Adrian.

Mackinnion was 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Hornets, while Kent also went 2-for-3. Morosi finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Ben Schroeder allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and struck out two in seven innings for Kalamazoo.

The teams will conclude the four-game series Apr. 30 with a doubleheader at Kalamazoo.