Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It was two completely different games for the Adrian College softball team, but they found a way to continue their perfect season with 10-0 and 2-1 wins over MIAA opponent Calvin College. With the sweep, the Bulldogs improve their perfect season to 24-0 and remain the only softball team in all of the NCAA (Division I, II and III) and NAIA without a loss.
Game one was a complete offensive effort by the Bulldogs as they pounded out 11 hits including two doubles and two triples.
Senior Katie Adams (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock) led off the game with a walk and was sacrificed over by freshman Katie Dewyre (Pemberville, Ohio/Eastwood) and then to third by junior Sarah Hall's (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon) fly out to center. Adams then scored on an error by the Knights catcher. After senior Kristin Toney (Cassopolis, Mich./Edwardsburg) reached on an error, she would come around to score on another Calvin error to give the Bulldogs a two run lead after the first.
In the bottom of the inning, junior pitcher Kelly Eberhardt (Wellington, Ohio/Black River) walked the first batter of the game and after a failed bunt attempt, got the Knights cleanup hitter to ground into a four-six-three double play to end the inning.
The Bulldogs exploded for four runs in the second inning as six of the first seven Adrian batters reached base, four by way of hits. Dewyre drove in two runs with a single through the ride side. Hall followed with a double to score Adams and Dewyre would score on another Calvin error.
Adrian tacked on two more runs in the third as junior Katrina Wotten (Blackstock, Ont./Cartwright) singled to left-center and then fellow junior Maggie Hein (Adrian, Mich./Lenawee Christian) drove her in with a triple to right field. Adams would drive in Hein with a single through the right side to finish off the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Eberhardt again allowed the leadoff batter to get on, this time with a double and was sacrificed to third. However, Eberhardt quickly shutdown the Knights chance to score as she struck out the next two batters.
The Bulldogs added on two more in the fourth as sophomore Amara Karapas (Saline, Mich./Saline) led off the inning with a double and scored when freshman Brittan Bertrand (Grand Blanc, Mich./Goodrich) knocked a triple to left-center. Bertrand scored after Hein followed up with a single to end the Bulldogs scoring.
Eberhardt finished game one pitching four shutout innings while striking out three batters, allowing only one hit and one walk. Freshman Melissa Rich (Mount Morris, Mich./E.A. Johnson Memorial) came on to finish the final inning allowing one hit and striking out a batter.
The second game of the doubleheader was a stark contrast to game one as the Adrian bats were unable to get much offense going early.
The Knights had an opportunity in the first inning after a leadoff batter singled and moved to third after a sacrifice, but sophomore Jami Shafley (Freeland, Mich./Midland) ended the rally as she induced the next two batters to ground out.
Adrian was able to get on the board first in the bottom of the second after freshman Jennifer Wend (Riverview, Mich./Riverview) singled to start the inning. Then, with two outs, Bertrand delivered for the Bulldogs as she singled to right field to give Adrian the early lead.
Neither team was able to get their offense going after that as the Bulldogs best opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth as Adrian had runners on second and third but were unable to cash-in on the opportunity.
In the top of the sixth, after Shafley was able to get the first two batters out, Calvin's number four batter singled to left field. The next Knights batter followed suit with a single to right field as Calvin was able to tie the game after a Bulldogs error on the play. Eberhardt was brought in and quickly ended the Calvin rally as she struck out the first batter. In the top of the seventh, Eberhardt gave up a double with two outs, but again quickly squashed Calvin's chance to score as she struck out the next batter.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Hein singled to left field to give the Bulldogs life. It would be Adams who stepped up to deliver for the Bulldogs. Adams hit a rope to right field for a triple as Hein came all the way around from first to score the winning run.
Shafley earned the no decision after going five and two-thirds innings allowing one unearned run while striking out five batters and just five hits. Eberhardt earned her 15th win of the season in relief as she struck out three batters while allowing just one hit over an inning and a third.
Hein led the Bulldogs with a huge day at the plate going 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBI's. Adams also had a big day at the dish as she went 4-for-7 with two runs scored and two runs driven in. Dewyre was 3-for-6 at the plate driving in two and scoring once. Bertrand was also solid at the plate going 2-for-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored.
Adrian will look to continue their perfect season as they take on MIAA opponent St. Mary's College on April 9 at 1:00 pm. The game will serve as Adrian's annual Breast Cancer Awareness game in which the team will wear pink jerseys and will offer silent auction items as well as a bake sale.
