CLERMONT, Fla. – The Adrian College softball team split games on the day starting with a 15-3 loss to Moravian but came back to defeat Eastern Nazarene 5-3. With the split, the Bulldogs are still having a fantastic start down in Florida with a 6-2 record.

THE BASICS

Game 1 Final: Adrian 3, Moravian 15

Game 2 Final: Adrian 5, Eastern Nazarene 3

Location: Clermont, Fla.

Records: Adrian 6-2, Eastern Nazarene 7-5, Moravian 7-1

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bulldogs kicked off their day with a game against Moravian which didn't go the way they wanted. After scoring one run in the first, Moravian put up an eight run inning in the second to lead 9-0. After allowing two more runs in the third, Adrian was able to score three runs in the bottom half on the inning to trail 11-3. Katie Connolly ripped a RBI single that scored two and Mikalah Clay was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Moravian added four more runs in the fifth to force the game to end early on run rule. Loren Vail struggled on the rubber allowing 11 runs on 12 hits. As a team, the Bulldogs collected a total of five hits in the early morning loss.

In game two, the Bulldogs took a while to get the bats going on offense. Eastern Nazarene scored in the bottom of the second on a RBI single. The next two innings went scoreless for both teams until the Bulldogs got on the board in the fifth. Lauren McCulligh singled to left field to score Madison Budde to tie the game 1-1. In that same inning Connolly reached on a fielder's choice which drove in a run and allowed the Bulldogs to take the lead. Eastern Nazarene responded in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 2-2 heading into the seventh.

Adrian regained the lead on a sacrifice fly from Hope Kapelanski which was followed by a single from Connolly and a single from Hailey DeChalk to take the lead 5-2. With a three run lead, it was up to pitching and defense to lock down the win. Eastern Nazarene put up a fight scoring a run to trail 5-3, but the Bulldogs prevailed and came away with the win.

Connolly finished game two going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and DeChalk finished 3-for-4 with one RBI. Natalie Mathers went the distance for Adrian throwing seven innings allowing one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will finish their trip to Florida on Friday, March 6 with a doubleheader against John Carroll University and Rose-Hulman. Tomorrows games are set for 10:15 AM and 12:15 PM.