May 6

BULLDOGS SLUG OUT SPLIT WITH ALBION
Rickstad, seniors make history on season’s final day

By Ed Patino
Sports Information Assistant

ADRIAN, Mich. – For teams with two of the lower earned run averages in the conference, there was no shortage of offensive fireworks.

With both teams hitting at a high-octane level, the Adrian College Bulldogs finished their season by splitting a doubleheader with the Albion College Britons, winning the first game 11-7 before dropping the nightcap 8-6 on “senior day” at Riverside Park.

Adrian (24-16, 20-8 MIAA) finished second in the conference after winning back-to-back MIAA titles in 2005-06. Hope College clinched the championship after taking three of four games with Olivet and winning 14 of its final 15 league games. Albion (22-18, 17-11 MIAA) finished third in the conference.

The opener saw Adrian outlast the Britons in a game featuring a combined 24 hits. Albion took control of the second game with a big fifth inning before holding off a Bulldog rally.

Adrian broke the ice in the opener with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Sulek’s RBI single scored Mackenzie Matthews, then Todd Meyers and Sulek scored on a fielding error, making it 3-0.

The teams combined for nine runs in the fourth inning. The Britons roared back in the top of the frame as Bryan Smith and Zach Benko scored on an error, then Cameron Mueller tied the game with an RBI triple that scored Ryan Thurston. Mueller later scored on Dan Bahorski’s RBI single, giving Albion a 4-3 lead.

Adrian responded in a big way in the bottom of the inning. Consecutive triples by Alex Cowart and Steve Vanderheyden tied the game, then Matthews drove in Vanderheyden with a single, giving the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead. Sulek ripped a double to score Matthews before scoring on a wild pitch, and Meyers scored on Bobby Rickstad’s RBI single, making it 8-4.

The Britons didn’t go quietly and plated three runs in the fifth. Derek Tracy’s single scored Tim Gough, then Tracy scored on a fielder’s choice. Later in the frame, Benko scored on Mueller’s single, pulling Albion to within one.

That would be as close as it would get, as the Bulldogs answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Matthews’ RBI single scored Cowart, then Xander Younce belted a two-RBI single, scoring Matthews and Vanderheyden, making it 11-7.

Matthews went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Bulldogs. Sulek was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs, while Rickstad went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Cowart finished 2-for-3 with two runs and Meyers was 1-for-3 with two runs for Adrian.

Rickstad had to battle on the mound for the win and some history. The junior recorded hits ninth pitching win of the season, setting a new Adrian College season record for wins. Rickstad allowed seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits and struck out three in 5 1/3 innings. Alex Webster pitched the final 1 2/3, allowing just one hit.

Albion starter Mark Roberson was charged with the pitching loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. Mueller went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Britons, while Thurston finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run.

The Britons jumped to a 3-0 lead after plating a run in the first inning and two more in the top of the third. Adrian fought back in the bottom of the frame went Mike Ballard’s RBI double scored Mike Hackett. An inning later, Meyers made it 3-2 when he scored on Anthony Carr’s sacrifice bunt.

The Bulldogs appeared to be on their way out of a based-loaded jam in the top of the fifth when Benko was called for the second out on an interference call, but Albion erupted for five runs after that. Nate Landoski’s single scored Gough, then Tracy scored on a hit batter, making it 5-2. Landoski and Barrett Henson scored on a fielding error, and Pat Cavanagh made it 8-2 when he scored on a wild pitch.

Adrian still had signs of life after scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Meyers scored on Mark Roeder’s flyout, then Cowart scored on a passed ball. During a rundown between first and second base, Sulek stole home, making it 8-5. Things really got interesting in the seventh when Brock Winchell scored on a fielding error and Adrian loaded the bases, but Albion escaped the jam for the win.

Ballard went 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead the Bulldogs, while Meyers was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Hackett finished 1-for-4 with a run. Adrian used six pitchers in the game, with Nick Sarkissian taking the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) on two hits in two innings.

Gough finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored to lead Albion. Brian Hearns recorded the pitching win, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out two in 5 2/3 innings.

Sulek, Hackett, Roeder, Ballard, Eric Calkins, Brent McCall, Paul Walters and Mark Rairigh were honored during a “senior day” ceremony between games. The senior class was part of two MIAA championships and two second place finishes in their four years. Adrian has posted a 101-64 record over the last four seasons, including a 70-25 mark in the conference. During that time, the Bulldogs have lost only one MIAA weekend series, that to Albion in 2006.