KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Adrian College softball team's bats came alive in their MIAA conference opener defeating Kalamazoo College 8-0 and 17-0. The 15^th ranked Bulldogs improved their record to 18-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

In game one, Kalamazoo's pitcher walked the first three Adrian batters to load the bases for senior Kristin Toney (Cassopolis, Mich./Edwardsburg). Toney singled scoring fellow senior Katie Adams (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock). Junior Laura Heinz (Manchester, Mich./Clinton) followed with another single scoring freshman Katie Dewyre (Pemberville, Ohio/Eastwood) and junior Sarah Hall (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon). Heinz would later score after a Hornets error to give the Bulldogs all the runs they would need, leading 5-0 after the first inning.

Again in the second inning, Adams led off the inning with a single, stole second and was followed by a walk to Dewyre. Hall came to the plate and delivered on her fourth home run of the season as the Bulldogs failed to score in the remaining innings.

Junior Kelly Eberhardt (Wellington, Ohio/Black River) started in the dirt circle for the Bulldogs, pitching two innings while striking out six Hornets and allowing only one hit. Freshman Melissa Rich (Mount Morris, Mich./Elizabeth Ann Johnson Memorial) came on in relief to earn her second win of the season striking out three while allowing just one hit over three innings.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Adrian bats again started early as seven of the first eight batters reached base. After an Adams walk, Dewyre doubled scoring Adams and was followed by a walk to Hall. A single by Toney and a single by sophomore Jennifer Wend (Riverview, Mich./Riverview) scored Dewyre. Fellow sophomore Amara Karapas (Saline, Mich./Saline) hit a sacrifice fly scoring Hall. Freshman Brittany Bertrand (Grand Blanc, Mich./Goodrich) doubled, scoring Toney and Wend. Junior Katrina Wooten (Blackstock, Ont./Cartwright) one-upped Bertrand hitting a triple to score her. Adams finished off the scoring as she came to bat again and singled in Wotten.

Adrian scored twice in the second on an RBI single by junior Maggie Hein (Adrian, Mich./Lenawee Christian). The Bulldogs followed up by scoring three in the third, including two on a single by Bertrand.

Adrian would add on five more runs in the bottom of the fourth as the Bulldogs would bat around for the second time in the game. After RBI doubles by Wend and sophomore Tara Camper (The Woodlands, Texas/Woodlands College Park), Wotten would knock in two more runs on a base clearing triple.

Sophomore Jessie Plaque (Sterling Heights, Mich./Adlai E. Stevenson) earned the victory throwing three inning of no-hit ball while striking out two and walking two. Freshman Sarah Muncey (Genoa, Ohio/Genoa) came on to pitch the final two innings striking out three while allowing just two hits.

Adams, who was 3-for-5 with an RBI and three stolen bases, scored three runs giving her 110 for her career which sets the school record. Bertrand went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Wend was 2-for-3 with three RBI's and three runs. Hall was 1-for-4 with three RBI's and three runs scored. Toney was 3-for-5.

On the day, the Bulldogs tallied their 25 runs on 20 hits, 15 walks and 10 stolen bases.

Adrian will travel to Bluffton University for a non-conference doubleheader on March 31 starting at 3:30 pm.