May 14, 2008

Box Score

Game Photos

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Adrian College baseball team made a little history on Wednesday afternoon with a 4-3 win over the College of Wooster in the 2008 NCAA Mideast Regional. It was the first opening game win for the Bulldogs in their third all-time trip to the NCAA regionals. Adrian advances to the winner's bracket in the double elimination regional and will face the host school Rose-Hulman tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Rose-Hulman had a very solid overall performance in a 4-0 win over Calvin College this evening. RHIT and Adrian have played twice this season with the Engineers winning both games at Art Nehf Field by one-run margins.

The Bulldogs fell behind early against the Fighting Scots after a two-run homer by Matt Groezinger in the bottom of the first. Adrian came back to tie things at 2-2 in the top of the third. The Bulldogs scored two unearned runs in the frame with two outs. Alex Cowart singled to third base on a slow roller which scored Todd Meyers with the team's first run. Bobby Rickstad then singled on a sharp liner down the left field line which was knocked down by Bubba O'Donnell scoring Nate Sarkissian with the tying run. Sarkissian reached on a throwing error by O'Donnell which kept the inning alive.

Adrian took a 3-2 lead in the fourth but stranded men on second and third with no outs. Brian Bilius singled to right to lead off the inning and Brett Miskokomon executed a pretty hit-and-run sending Bilius to third with no outs. Alexander Younce doubled to right center scoring Bilius and sending Miskokomon to third. The Bulldogs then hit a pop-up, flyout and groundout to keep Wooster within just one run.

Alex Webster really settled into the game after the first inning and held Wooster off the scoreboard for six straight innings. He went into the eighth when the Fighting Scots tied the game at 3-3 on a leadoff solo homer by Stu Beath. Three batters later Webster was replaced by Nick Vandike with runners on first and second with one out. Vandike's first pitch was hit sharply to Meyers at shortstop who flipped to second baseman Steve Vanderheyden. The turn at second was crisp and the Bulldogs ended the threat just that quickly.

The stage was set for heroics in the ninth as Rickstad came to the plate with two outs and Sarkissian on second and Cowart on first. Wooster went to the bullpen for their closer Mark Miller and his sub-1.00 ERA. Rickstad won the battle by hitting a game-winning single through the right side scoring Sarkissian.

Vandike closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth allowing two singles but also striking out two including the final out as Jake Sankal looked at the third strike on the outside corner with a runner on second. Vandike improved to 5-0 and pitched 1.2 innings. Webster went 7.1 innings his second longest of the season. He allowed nine hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out three.

Adrian collected 12 hits off number one starter Adam Samson. Cowart batted 2-for-4 in the third spot. Rickstad was 2-for-5 with two RBI's in the fourth spot. Bilius led the offense going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Adrian (31-10) played solid defense behind their two pitchers with no errors. It was the 12th errorless game of the year for the Bulldogs.