ADRIAN, Mich. - On Wednesday afternoon, backyard rivals Adrian College and Siena Heights University played an unanticipated home-and-home series with both sides picking up wins on the other's home field.
 
Game 1: Adrian 9, Siena Heights 8 (9 Innings)

In the top half of the ninth inning, Ava Ferrarelli doubled home the go-ahead run in Lauren McCulligh, giving the Bulldogs a dramatic series-opening win over their crosstown rival.

The game-winning swing was the sophomore's lone hit of the contest, but it was a big one!

Siena Heights got itself on the scoreboard early, capitalizing on an Adrian miscue to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Then, in the fourth frame, both sides added a run, beginning with a sacrifice bunt by Ferrarelli before an answer by the Saints.

In the fifth inning, the 'Dogs flexed some muscle, striking for four runs to build a 5-2 advantage. The highlight of the at-bat came with two outs on the board, a pair of runners on the bags and McCulligh in the box. For the third time this season, the senior launched a fences-clearing shot to left field, bringing home Maggie Leveille and Genna Marasco.

The home side went on to add two runs over the next three half-innings, cutting the Bulldogs' lead down to a single run. Then, in the top leg of the seventh, the visitors got their insurance back, again off the bats of McCulligh and Ferrarelli.

With the lead up to 8-4, Adrian needed three outs to secure the win. However, the Saints had other plans. Behind five hits and infield-error, Siena Heights crawled its way to an 8-8 tie, forcing extra innings.

After a scoreless eighth frame, the black and gold got to work in the ninth, leading off with a single by McCulligh. A subsequent sacrifice by Katie Connoly advanced the Bulldogs' first batter up 60 feet to second base, where she would eventually be sent home by Ferrarelli on the next at-bat.

All told, McCulligh finished 4-for-4 with 5 RBIs, while Paige Stein, Hailey DeChalk and Leveille each chipped in two hits.

Allison TenHove was credited with the win after working through 2.2 innings of relief, surrendering zero runs on four hits.

Game 2: Adrian 4, Siena Heights 12 (6 Innings)

With daylight quicky fading, the two sides packed their bags and ventured west for the second of Wednesday's doubleheader. Under the lights of the Adrian College softball field, the designated home team pounced for six runs in the first innings, carrying that momentum all the way to a 12-4, six-inning decision.

The Bulldogs did muster up some runs in the top half of the first innings. A one-out, two-run home run to straight-away center by DeChalk quickly pushed Adrian ahead, 2-0.

The Saints, though, turned to the big bats themselves in the following half-inning, collecting two four-base hits as part of their initial six-run attack.

Adrian, unfortunately, could not fully recover from the early deficit, despite RBI-doubles from Stein in the second inning, and DeChalk in the fifth inning.

In game two, the Bulldog offense was paced by DeChalk, Ferrarelli and Stein with two hits each, while the first of the three was responsible for a team-best three RBIs.
 
Next on the schedule for Adrian is a quick turnaround with a trip to Defiance College on Thursday afternoon. First-pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
  Read Full Article