ADRIAN, Mich. - For the second straight day the Bulldog baseball team went extra innings with #1 Heidelberg University, but on Sunday it was Heidelberg picking up a 2-1 win over Adrian in a battle of regional foes. Yesterday it was the Bulldogs pulling off a 2-1 win in 10 innings as the teams split their weekend series at Nicolay Field.
A pair of starting gems by senior David Partyka of Adrian and senior Brian Koehl of Heidelberg kept their teams close throughout. Partyka went nine innings and allowed nine hits with one earned run, four walks and five strikeouts. He threw 137 pitches with 90 for strikes and lowered his season ERA to 3.10. Koehl went 7.2 innings and yielded four hits, one earned run and seven walks. He did strike out 10 Bulldogs in a 142-pitch effort.
The offense came sporadically as Adrian grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Chad Williams led off with a walk and Joe Dubina got a good-luck bunt single down the first base line. Cody Meyer walked with one out and then Andrew DeLuca singled to left scoring Williams. Koehl then got the next two batters out on strikes.
Heidelberg tied the game in the seventh as Andrew Buelow doubled to start the inning. Elvin Williams Jr. was then hit by a pitch with one out. Ricardo Lizcano then hit a long fly to left field which was caught for the second out. Kyle Strawn slipped on the turf and that allowed Buelow to score all the way from second.
Josh Burd entered the game in the top of the 10th and promptly walked the first two batters he faced to put Adrian in a bind. Craig Steadman replaced Burd and Derek Andrzejczak sacrificed both runners up a base. Then a passed ball by Dubina allowed the run to score from third just under the tag at home plate by Steadman. Steadman then struck out Buelow and Lucas Willitzer struck out Jordan Martin to end the inning.
Adrian went quietly in the bottom of the 10th to give Heidelberg their 11th win of the season. Andy Lowe got the win with 2.1 relief innings improving to 1-1. He allowed no hits and struck out three. Adrian mustered just four hits as Strawn had the only extra base hit which was a double to lead off the third inning. Dubina reached base three times with a hit and two walks. Jake Cappelletty had the other hit for the Bulldogs.
