March 7, 2009

Box Score

IRVING, Tex. - After six games this season, it is apparent that this year's version of the Adrian College baseball team has a lot of work to do after dropping a 11-4 decision at U of Dallas to finish their spring trip at 2-4 overall. The story on Saturday was the same as pitching and defense once again allowed Dallas to score in double digits for the second straight day. AC gave up 11 runs on 11 hits and committed four errors. In total, nine of the 11 runs were earned on the day against the Bulldogs.

Dallas took a 2-0 lead after one inning as shortstop Tom Fogerty hit a solo home run for his third roundtripper of the season and Zach Atkins later scored on an error by Steve Vanderheyden. Adrian knotted things up at 2-2 in the third inning as Brian Bilius had an RBI groundout to shortstop and Alex Cowart scored from third after Vanderheyden struck out and catcher Varea Costello made an error on the third strike.

Dallas quickly regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Gabe Sandersius had a two-out, two-run double to give the Crusaders the lead for good. The Crusaders added three more runs in the fifth as Atkins smacked a two-run home run over the wall for his eighth dinger of the season.

Nick VanDike was chased in the fifth going 4.1 innings in a rare start for the senior who started just once in 20 appearances a year ago. VanDike (1-1) allowed six hits and five earned runs while walking two and striking out four. Adam Stone relieved VanDike and pitched into the seventh. Stone went 2.1 innings and allowed three hits with two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts. The Crusaders added two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings.

Adrian posted single runs in the sixth and seventh innings against Michael Schweiss. Schweiss went six innings and got the win (2-0) in relief of Sandersius. Schweiss allowed two earned runs and struck out five Bulldogs. Kyle Strawn had an RBI groundout to second in the seventh and Cowart had an RBI groundout to shortstop in the sixth.

Todd Meyers went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two doubles. The Adrian native also drew a walk and had one putout in the field. Cowart went 3-for-5 with three singles and a run scored. Nate Sarkissian reached base four times and stole a base his second of the year. Sarkissian went 2-for-3 at the plate and also drew two walks in the sixth spot in the lineup.

Postgame Notes: Meyers had a superb trip batting a team high .571 in five starts with 12 hits in 21 at-bats...He scored nine runs and had four doubles and a .654 on-base percentage...Bilius also shined on offense with a .400 average collecting 10 hits in 25 at-bats...He scored five runs and drove in seven which tied for the team lead...Cowart hit .385 during the trip with 10 hits in 26 at-bats and also tied for the team honors with seven RBI's...The Bulldogs batted .317 as a team with 40 runs scored and collected 14 extra-base hits but no home runs...The staff ERA was 6.88 in six games after finishing last year with a 3.95 ERA.