May 15, 2008

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - What a fantastic regional it has been for senior Bobby Rickstad! One night after delivering the game-winning hit, he scored the game-winning run and threw a complete game three-hitter in a huge 4-3 victory over host Rose-Hulman. Rickstad threw an incredible 151 pitches and struck out 10 Engineers while walking two and allowing two earned runs in the first inning on a two-run homer.

Adrian jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first against Rose-Hulman starter Michael Matsui. Nate Sarkissian singled to left with one out to start things. Rickstad collected the first of his three hits on the night with a two-out single to shortstop advancing Alex Cowart to second after he reached on a fielder's choice. Steve Vanderheyden fired an RBI single to right center scoring Cowart to make it 1-0. Brian Bilius made it 2-0 with an RBI single to right scoring Rickstad from third.

Keenan Long hit a two-run homer to right in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 2-2. The Engineers took a 3-2 lead in the second as Rickstad made a throwing error fielding a bunt which allowed the go-ahead run to score. He then shut down Rose-Hulman the rest of the way. At one point, he struck out four straight hitters and retired seven guys in a row between the end of the second and two outs in the fourth.

The Bulldogs struck for two runs in the eighth helped out by a couple of errors by RHIT. Cowart led off the inning by reaching on a fielding error by shortstop Chandler Kent. Adrian used a hit-and-run off the bat of Rickstad to put runners on the corners with no outs. Vanderheyden singled to center which tied the game at 3-3 and moved Rickstad to second. Bilius put down a sacrifice bunt and Matsui threw wild of third trying to cut down the lead runner. Jake Cappelletty drove the game-winning sacrifice fly to left scoring Rickstad. Alexander Younce then reached on a fielding error by second baseman Tim Tepe to reload the bases with one out. Andrew Anderson lined into a double play as Bilius just missed getting back to second to end the inning.

Rickstad retired Rose-Hulman in order in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the game. Adrian stranded eight runners on the night while the Engineers left four guys on base. The Bulldogs collected 10 hits on the evening as Rickstad finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Vanderheyden had a big game going 3-for-4 with two RBI's. Bilius was 2-for-3 with an RBI and is now 5-for-7 in two regional games.

Adrian (32-10) was won two regional games in one tournament for the first time in school history having beaten Wooster, the preseason number one team in Division III, and now getting revenge against RHIT who defeated Adrian twice during the regular season. AC will battle Heidelberg in the first game on Friday at noon from Art Nehf Field. The Student Princes are also 2-0 including a 4-1 win earlier on Thursday which sent Calvin home with two quick losses. Heidelberg and Adrian squared off back on May 1 at Nicolay Field with HC claiming a 4-3 win.