May 21, 2010

Box Score

MARIETTA, Ohio - The Adrian College baseball team came into the Mideast Regional with a 29-0 record when leading after six innings but for the second straight day it was a late inning rally that ended the season for the Bulldogs.

Adrian led 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh but it was Thomas More who had the clutch hits and got the key outs in a 8-5 comeback win over the Bulldogs. Adrian finishes the season with a record of 30-13 and went 1-2 in the regional.

Adrian led 2-0 after a two-run home run by senior Alex Cowart in the first inning which went over the left field wall and scored freshman Cody Meyer who got on base with a bunt single with one out.

The Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead in the third inning as Jake Cappelletty had a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield which scored Cowart from third base. Cowart walked with one out and stole second. Nate Sarkissian grounded out to second and moved Cowart to third before the Cappelletty single.

Thomas More (33-15) cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth but Adrian came right back with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Cowart walked with two outs and stole second and then Sarkissian had a RBI single through the left side as Adrian regained a three-run lead.

The Saints took a lead with a four-run seventh inning as a walk and five straight singles led to starter Josh Lancaster exiting the game after a Brandon Nutini base hit. Jason Fryman entered the game and allowed the last two singles and a sacrifice fly before getting the final two outs as Adrian trailed 5-4.

Thomas More gave themselves a four-run cushion with three more runs in the top of the ninth to lead 8-4. Max Robbins singled to lead-off and was bunted over to second. He took third on a wild pitch and came home as Adrian drew the infield in and a Chris Fishburn liner got under the glove of Meyer and into left field. After a single by Marty Kersting the Bulldogs brought in senior Dan Welch. Ryan Darner doubled to right center scoring both runners and making it twice as hard to comeback for the Bulldogs.

Chad Williams led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left center and Joe Dubina singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. Garrett Green entered the game in the fifth inning at second base after a Steve Vanderheyden injury and lined one to second as pinch runner Andrew DeLuca was doubled off first. Andrew Anderson had a RBI single to make it 8-5 and Meyer grounded out to second to the game.

Lancaster (8-2) took the loss throwing the first six innings and allowing 10 hits and five earned runs. He walked one and struck out four in a 94-pitch outing. Fryman threw 2.1 innings and gave up five hits and two earned runs. He did not walk anyone and struck out one.

Cowart went 1-for-2 with his ninth home run of the season and 19th of his career. He scored three runs and drove in a pair. He entered the game hitting .476 this season and .419 in his career which are both single season and career records at Adrian College. He also had 164 runs, 235 hits, 156 RBI's and 57 stolen bases which are all career records at AC. Cowart was named to the Mideast Regional All-Tournament Team.

Lancaster ends his career with a record of 17-9. Vanderheyden finishes his career with 168 hits and 109 RBI's. Nick Sarkissian, Welch and Anderson also played in their final game for the Bulldogs.