March 25, 2008

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Despite not having been able to play in ten days, the Adrian College softball team was more than ready to step up to the plate on Tuesday against Defiance College.

The Yellow Jackets got the early lead in game one when Stephanie Lieto scored the game's first run in the bottom of the second inning. The Defiance lead did not last long, however, as the Bulldogs responded in their next trip to the dish.

Carly Toth got things started for the Bulldogs in the top of the third, singling to lead off the inning. After advancing to third on two wild pitches, Toth scored easily on a Krissy Sheets double to knot the score at 1-1. Sheets, who advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored the go-ahead run on a Carmen Batway single.

The first game remained at 2-1 in favor of the Bulldogs until the seventh inning. Ashley Kalinski led off with a single in the top of the last inning and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Toth walked to safely reach first for the third time in the game to put runners at first and second for the Bulldogs. Two batters later, Sheets struck again with a single and Kalinski scored from second base to plate the final run of the game and lift the Bulldogs to the 3-1 victory.

Sheets went 2-for-4 in game one with two RBIs and a run scored while Toth went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Andrea Vangoss picked up her third win from the mound by scattering four hits while striking out eight.

Both teams came out with solid defense to start game two, but it would be the Bulldogs who would eventually control both sides of the field in the second game. After three scoreless innings of play, Adrian struck in a big way in the fourth inning. With two away, Jenna Kloster hit a single up to center field before Ashley Kalinski hammered a two-run home run to left field for the 2-0 Bulldog advantage.

The Bulldogs forced the Yellow Jackets to strand three runners over the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to maintain the 2-0 lead heading into the seventh. Kalinski struck again for the Bulldogs, this time with a double to right field to lead off the inning. Kalinski scored from second on a Kristen Toney single to center field to put Adrian up 3-0. After a Katie Adams double and a pitching change on the part of the Yellow Jackets, Krissy Sheets picked up her third RBI on the day despite grounding out to the shortstop. With runners on first and third and two outs, Holly Lowe singled to right center to drive in the Bulldogs' fifth and final run.

Kalinski finished game two by going 3-for-3 to pace the offense. Kelly Tomasek threw six scoreless innings and gave up just two hits en route to picking up the win before giving way to Lindsay Mandeville in the seventh.

The Bulldogs, now 5-8 on the season, will now look to take the momentum from their two wins on Tuesday into Thursday's scheduled doubleheader with Concordia University (Mich.), which is scheduled to take place at the Adrian College softball field. Game one is to begin at 3:00 p.m.