May 15, 2009

Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - Adrian College scored one run in each of the last five innings including the bottom of the 10th on Friday avoiding elimination in the Mideast Regional with a 9-8 win over sixth-seed Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

The Bulldogs (32-10) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings as Nate Sarkissian had an RBI double in the first and Andrew Anderson and Todd Meyers each drove in a run in the second. Rose-Hulman (32-13) tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third as Keenan Long delivered the game-tying home run to center field for the Engineers.

Adrian took a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the frame as Alex Cowart doubled to right center to start the inning. After a pair of outs, Brian Bilius singled to center to score Cowart from third to take a one-run advantage.

Rose-Hulman scored the next five runs in the middle innings to take an 8-4 lead. Kreigh Williams had an RBI groundout on a fielder's choice and Sarkissian had an error on a single to center which allowed Williams to score with an unearned run in the fifth. The Engineers scored on a bases loaded walk in the sixth and Williams had an RBI single with two outs to increase their lead to four runs.

The Bulldogs started chipping away in the bottom of the sixth as Steve Vanderheyden had a sacrifice fly to right scoring Meyers to make it 8-5. Adrian made it 8-6 in the seventh as Bilius scored on a wild pitch but Meyers' groundout with runners on second and third ended any further damage.

In the midst of all the offense was the gutty performance by junior Josh Lancaster. Lancaster entered the game in the top of the fourth and threw 110 pitches in relief of senior Alex Webster. Lancaster did not get the decision but certainly kept Adrian in the game. He went 5.1 innings and allowed eight hits with two earned runs, four walks and two strikeouts.

Adrian had a chance to end things in the bottom of the ninth but did tie the game at 8-8. Anderson began the inning with a single and Meyers moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Cowart drew a two-out walk and Anderson stole third on the play. With runners on the corners, Sarkissian had the biggest single of the season to right scoring Anderson and moving Cowart to third. Jake Cappelletty flew out to left with the winning run 90 feet away.

Nick Vandike (5-2) got four straight batters out including a one-two-three 10th inning to set up the final heroics. Bilius singled to right center to leadoff and Kris Powell moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. On the bunt, pitcher Andrew Oakley (2-3) threw the ball away putting runners on second and third with no outs. Joe Dubina was intentionally walked and Anderson's sacrifice fly to center scored Bilius with the winning run.

Adrian will now play on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in another elimination game against top-seeded Heidelberg.

Meyers, Cowart and Bilius each had three hits for the Bulldogs. Chandler Kent, Chris Stemple and Kirk Thompson each had three hits for the Engineers. Rose-Hulman used six pitchers in the game as starter Gannon Sadzeck went 2.2 innings and allowed seven hits and four earned runs.