May 8, 2010

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. - In a very emotionally charged day, it was the Bulldogs who celebrated back-to-back MIAA titles with a pair of wins over Kalamazoo College. Adrian (28-10, 22-4 MIAA) claimed a league title for the fourth time in the last six years and made sure they wrapped things up with a 9-2 game 1 victory. They then closed out the day with a 6-0 win in game 2.

The senior class was honored in between games as they improved to 121-50 during the past four years. Josh Lancaster, Dan Welch, Alex Cowart, Nick Sarkissian, Andrew Anderson, Steve Vanderheyden and Chad Meyer are part of the most successful class in school history.

Adrian jumped on the Hornets in game 1 with a pair of runs in the first and second innings to build a 4-0 lead. They tacked on three more in the fifth and two more in the sixth. It was more than enough run support for junior Ryan Domschot. He improved to 6-2 on the mound allowing two earned runs in a complete game performance. He set a career-high with 13 strikeouts and allowed just five hits in a 131-pitch outing which lowered his ERA to 3.00.

Cowart reached base eight times on the day and was 3-for-3 with three singles, two runs and two RBI's in game 1. Anderson went 2-for-4 with the only extra base hit of the game which was his 12th double of the season. Brian Bilius went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Vanderheyden went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Joe Dubina was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI's. Adrian had 15 hits in the contest which matched the jersey number of Meyer in a fitting tribute.

Adrian totaled 10 hits in the nightcap and Josh Lancaster threw a gem to improve to 8-1. Lancaster allowed three hits in 6.1 innings and his fellow senior Dan Welch needed just eight pitches to record the final two outs for a combined shutout. Lancaster walked three and struck out eight in a 96-pitch outing.

Cowart went 2-for-3 with his 11th double and also scored twice and reached base on a walk. Nate Sarkissian went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Jason Greer went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and two RBI's. Bilius, Kyle Strawn and Dubina each had one RBI in game 2.

Notes: The Bulldogs will advance to the NCAA Regionals for the fourth time in five years with today's wins...Cowart is hitting .481 this season which is currently a single-season school record...The Bulldogs now have four starters with an ERA under 4.00...Adrian finished 13-5 at home this season and batted .358 as a team.