March 31, 2008

Game One Stats
Game Two Stats

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Adrian College softball team split a non-league doubleheader with Bluffton University of Monday afternoon by taking game one 4-2 before falling 8-4 in the nightcap.

In the first game, the Bulldogs got the early lead by plating two runs in the second inning. With one out, Jenna Kloster singled through the left side to get the Bulldog offense started. Ashley Kalinski followed up with a double to left center field to give the visitors runners at second and third with one away in the inning. Kloster then scored on a Carly Toth single up the middle. Kalinski gave the Bulldogs their second run of the game when she crossed the plate on a Kristen Toney fielder's choice.

The Bulldog defense stepped up in the bottom half of the inning. After getting the first out of the inning on a play at the plate, the Beavers would leave the bases loaded and strand three runners as the Andrea Vangoss picked up a strike out and Kalinski collected a foul fly ball for the inning's third out.

Krissy Sheets led off the top of the third with a double before scoring on a Holly Lowe fielder's choice to put the Bulldogs up 3-0.

The Beavers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when they cut the Adrian lead to one run. The Bulldogs responded late in the game as they plated a run in the top of the fifth. Krissy Sheets led off the inning with her second double of the game and later scored on a fielder's choice.

Andrea Vangoss scattered nine hits and gave up two runs while pitching all seven innings en route to picking up her fourth win of the season.

In game two, it would be the Beavers who would strike first as Jayme Marbaugh hit a two-run home run to left field to give Bluffton the 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the third inning with three runs of their own. Sheets collected her fifth lead-off hit of the day by singling up the middle to start the offense yet again. Carmen Batway and Holly Lowe followed up by reaching on a fielder's choice and getting hit by a pitch, respectively. With two outs, Jenna Kloster came through in the clutch for the Bulldogs by hitting a double to left field that would plate all three Bulldogs to put Adrian up 3-2 through three innings.

After a scoreless fourth inning in which Bluffton stranded three more runners, the Beavers were the ones to respond with offense in the fifth inning. Bluffton notched three runs in the top of the fifth while sending eight batters to the plate in the frame to regain the lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the Bulldogs cut the Bluffton lead to 5-4 when Katie Adams scored on a Holly Lowe sacrifice fly to left field.

The Beavers, however, would plate two runs in the top of the sixth and one run in the top of the seventh to take the 8-4 lead as the Bulldogs were unable to mount the comeback late in the game.

Lindsay Mandeville suffered the loss on the mound after coming in to the game in the third inning.

The Bulldogs (6-9) will open the conference portion of their schedule on Wednesday, April 2 when they host defending MIAA co-champion Alma College at the Adrian College softball field. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.