CLERMONT, Fla. - The Adrian softball team ended its first day down in Florida on a high note on Sunday, defeating Chatham University after dropping the season-opener to Cabrini University.
 
Game 1: Adrian 0, Cabrini 4

As the morning sun broke through at Legends Way Ballfield, the Bulldogs and the Cavaliers both took the field for the first time in 2022.

The eventual victors scatted each of their four runs over the first five innings, striking for two in the bottom half of the first inning before tallying one run in the third and fifth innings.

Adrian's best chance of cutting into the deficit came in the fifth frame. Meghan Lupu led things off with a single into the grass, eventually stealing second base after a Genna Marasco pop out to third. The next batter, Maggie Leveille, then dropped a base hit of her own, giving the signal to Lupu to make a break for home.

The freshman, however, was beaten by the throw coming in from the outfield, keeping the 'Dogs off the board.

Natalie Mathers was tabbed with the start for the black and gold, going five complete innings and retiring six Cavaliers on strikes.

At the plate, Lupu finished with a team-high two hits, while Hailey DeChalk, Katie Connolly and Leveille each contributed one hit.
 
Game 2: Adrian 7, Chatham 4

In the second outing of the day for the Bulldogs, it was the locals getting off to a fast start.

In the bottom leg of the first inning, Karley Kincaid nabbed her first-career hit with a single to the left side. After stealing the top of the diamond, the freshman was brought home on infield error off the bat of DeChalk.

Then, following a hit-by-pitch allowing Lauren McCulligh to reach first, another Chatham miscue in the infield garnered enough time for both McCulligh and DeChalk to score, bringing Adrian's lead to 3-0.

Madison Cvengros stepped up to the plate next for the 'Dogs, reaching on a fielder's choice, only to be sent back around on a Calle Perrin RBI-single.

The Cougars did muster across a pair of runs in the fifth inning, trimming Adrian's advantage down to 4-2. However, in the subsequent inning, the blackand gold tacked on a little more insurance.

Following a routine putout by the Chatham defense, Brynn McKay got the bats rolling again with a single up the middle. The freshman did not stay put for long, as immediately after, Mackenzie Melody popped a triple to right-center, bringing McKay home.

Then, later in the inning, Leveille continued the Bulldogs' barrage with an infield, RBI-single to the short side.

The scoring finally subsided after a McCulligh single out to centerfield scored Leveille.

Despite the Cougars nabbing two more runs in the seventh inning, the frail comeback bid was stopped in its tracks when Leveille caught a runner stealing at third base with Cvengros.

Seven different Bulldogs recorded hits in their second contest, including a game-high two from the black and gold's catcher.

In the circle, Abbi Patton was credited with the victory after working four-and-two-thirds innings, allowing only two hits and striking out four.
 
Adrian continues its Spring Break with two more games on Monday, beginning with Neumann University at 9 a.m.
 
  Read Full Article