March 24, 2010

Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - The win was not pretty but it still counts just the same as the Bulldogs won 7-6 on Wednesday night against crosstown rival Siena Heights. The Bulldogs committed four errors which led to six unearned runs during the contest and had a pair of home runs early in the game which proved to be crucial.

Siena Heights scored two runs in the second inning without the aid of a hit against starter Zach Robbins. Brian Bilius drew a leadoff walk to start the home half of the second and later scored on a two-run homer by catcher Joe Dubina. Dubina's first of the season was on a 0-2 pitch and cleared the left field wall.

Adrian took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth as the Bulldogs had runners on the corners with one out. Jake Cappelletty got involved in a rundown between first and second and was tagged out while Jason Greer scored from third to give AC the lead.

SHU scored three runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. Mark Pauwels had a sacrifice fly to right to give the Saints a 4-3 advantage and Justin Root followed with an RBI single up the middle.

Adrian cut the lead to 5-4 in their half of the fifth as Alex Cowart blasted a two-out solo homer to left for his third of the season. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the sixth to pull ahead to stay. The three runs came with two outs in the inning. Nate Sarkissian drew a bases loaded walk for AC's first run of the inning. Derek Fleetham entered the game to replace Ryan Agnew and promptly hit Andrew Deluca to give Adrian a 6-5 lead. Cowart got an RBI on a fielder's choice as Deluca hustled into second base to beat the throw and extend the inning.

Root had a ground-rule double in the seventh to cut the lead to 7-6 and then pitching took over for both teams. Sean Hartman pitched a solid eighth inning and then Dan Welch locked down his second save of the season leaving two runners on base in the ninth. Daniel Abbott was at second when Welch got the final out.

Josh Burd (1-1) got his first win for the Bulldogs as he threw one inning and allowed no hit and one walk. Agnew took the loss for the Saints falling to 0-1. Seven hurlers took the hill for Adrian in the victory. Adrian only had five hits against six Saints pitchers.