April 10, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - Despite the cold and rainy weather, the Adrian College bats came alive at just the right time in a doubleheader sweep of Hope College on Thursday. The Bulldogs claimed a 4-2 victory in game one and scored in their final at-bat in a 3-2 game two triumph over the Flying Dutchmen.

The weather seemed to hinder both offenses but the Adrian guys rose to the occasion twice and are now 16-5 overall and 8-2 in the MIAA. The Bulldogs trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth in game one. Alex Cowart reached on a throwing error by shortstop Bobby Edelberg to lead off the inning. Bobby Rickstad then drove a ball just over the third base bag for a double putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Brett Miskokomon drilled a ball into the left center gap for a two-run double which gave AC a 3-2 lead. Alexander Younce offered a sacrifice bunt which allowed pinch runner Ross Tonyan to move to third with one out. Jake Cappelletty struck out swinging for the second out and then Steve Vanderheyden singled to left for the much-needed insurance run.

Nick Vandike entered in the top of the seventh with one out and after giving up a single to the first batter promptly got two flyball outs to center to earn his first save of the year. Nick Sarkissian got the start and went 5.1 innings allowing one earned run with three strikeouts. Tim Parent (1-1) relieved Sarkissian and pitched one inning allowing two hits and no runs.

Vanderheyden went 2-for-3 with two RBI as he doubled home a run in the second inning to give AC a 1-0 lead. Cowart went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Adrian collected seven hits off Robby Poll (1-4) who threw 99 pitches and recorded two strikeouts with just one earned run in six innings.

Todd Meyers went hitless in his first five at-bats before delivering in the bottom of the seventh in game two. Meyers came to the plate with two outs and pinch runner Nate Sarkissian on second and hit a 3-1 pitch into left scoring Sarkissian with the winning run. Earlier in the inning, Brian Bilius singled to right with one out and Andrew Anderson laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bilius to second with two outs.

Adrian took a 2-1 lead into the top of the seventh when Hope tied the score at 2-2 with four hits in the inning. Paul Neumann had a RBI single through the right side of the infield and Hope left the go-ahead run on third after Vandike got Brock Doud to fly out to right. Vandike blew the save but did get the win improving to 3-0. He relieved starter Josh Lancaster in the seventh after Lancaster gave up a double to start the inning. Lancaster threw well going six innings and needing just 82 pitches to limit Hope to six hits and one earned run.

Adrian had six hits in game two off starter Dustin Wuis (1-4). Wuis threw 6.2 innings and allowed just one earned run while striking out five and walking three. Hope made five errors in the doubleheader which cost them dearly. Six different players had a hit in game two for Adrian. Meyers finished with two RBI also hitting a sacrifice fly in the third inning. AC will conclude the four-game series with Hope playing twice on Saturday in Holland.

Notes: Cowart is batting .545 (12-for-22) in MIAA games with five runs scored, three doubles and seven RBI...The team ERA dipped to 2.65 in MIAA action as the Bulldogs have walked 26 and struck out 51 in 68 innings...Seven pitchers have below a 2.00 ERA for the Bulldogs in conference action.