April 26, 2008

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - The final two MIAA series of the season should be a dandy after Adrian got back on track with two convincing wins over Albion on Saturday. The Bulldogs got a little revenge against the Britons after dropping a pair yesterday in Albion. Adrian won game one 10-0 and then continued to hit in an 11-3 win in game two. The two wins coupled with a Calvin split at Olivet means the Bulldogs are back on top of the league standings by a half game at 15-5 (23-8 overall).

The Bulldogs wasted no time in game one by scoring first in the bottom of the third on a three-run home run by sophomore Alex Cowart. Cowart's fourth of the year was a bomb to right center which scored Nate Sarkissian and Todd Meyers. Adrian put the game out of reach with a six-run fifth on three hits and one Albion error. Meyers led off being hit by a pitch and then stole second. He followed a strikeout by advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a wild throw by catcher Cameron Mueller. Dan Zech then walked Cowart and Bobby Rickstad and was replaced by Brad Polnasek. Polnasek gave up three straight hits and was saddled with three earned runs before handing the ball to Brett Devereaux. Devereaux allowed two batters to reach and threw a wild pitch to allow another run before getting two strikeouts to end the rally.

Bobby Rickstad was brilliant on the mound with a complete game four-hit shutout. He walked two and struck out six while leaving the bases loaded in the seventh to preserve the shutout. Rickstad needed 109 pitches of which 63 were strikes to move to 3-2.

Cowart went 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and four RBI. Adam Schumacher entered the game in the fifth at first base and drove a double over the head of right fielder Kyle O'Keefe for his first two RBI of the season. Steve Vanderheyden and Brian Bilius also had two hits in game one for the Bulldogs.

The second game was more of the same as Adrian jumped all over Albion with seven runs in the bottom of the first. The key play was an error by shortstop Abe Belanger which should have gotten Albion out of the inning only giving up one run. The Bulldogs scored two runs on the miscue and never looked back. All seven runs came with two outs and provided plenty of run support for junior Alex Webster.

Webster improved to 6-0 on the mound going 6.1 innings and allowing six hits and three earned runs. He did not walk anyone and struck out one in a 75-pitch outing. Four players had multiple hits for Adrian in game two. Meyers went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Rickstad went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI. Vanderheyden collected two hits in three at-bats with a run and RBI. Alexander Younce was also 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Meyers had two doubles giving him six on the season. Cowart, Rickstad and Andrew Anderson all had a triple in the nightcap.

Notes: Adrian has outscored their opponents, 47-11, in the first inning this season...The Bulldogs are currently 19-0 when leading after six innings...The ballclub is now 12-2 at Nicolay Field this season outscoring the opposition, 86-41...The pitching staff has a 3.18 ERA at home and have struck out 66 batters in 99 innings.