March 29, 2008

Game 1 Stats
Game 2 Stats

ADRIAN, Mich. - The frost and cold weather did not keep the Bulldogs down as they played their first doubleheader at new Nicolay Field on Saturday beating Kalamazoo College by the final scores of 4-3 and 3-0. The pitching performances by senior Bobby Rickstad and junior Alex Webster gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 start to the MIAA season and kept the Kalamazoo bats cold most of the day.

Rickstad had just one rough inning in game one allowing three earned runs in the second inning. After that he retired the next 11 hitters and settled in with 13 strikeouts in an overpowering final five innings on the mound. The late game heroics came in the bottom of the seventh with one out as Alex Cowart drew a walk and then stole second and third before Jake Cappelletty hit a sacrifice fly to center to end the game. After Kalamazoo went ahead 3-0, the Bulldogs answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to tie the score. The Hornets booted what looked to be a tailor-made double play groundball and the Bulldogs went on to score two earned runs and one unearned run against starter Ben Schroeder. Schroeder got a no-decision going six innings and allowing four walks with six strikeouts. Cowart was the offensive hero in game one going 2-for-2 with two walks and two stolen bases.

Webster improved to 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA this season throwing a complete game shutout in game two. He allowed five hits and walked no one while fanning three. The Bulldogs got two runs in the bottom of the fourth and added an insurance run in the fifth in the nightcap. Junior Todd Meyers went 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored in game two. Rickstad played third base and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the fourth giving Adrian a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs are 9-3 overall and will play tomorrow in another doubleheader against Kalamazoo beginning at 1:00 p.m.