BLUFFTON, Ohio - At Bluffton Field, the Bulldog softball team (7-15, 2-2 MIAA) split its second-to-last non-conference doubleheader of the 2022 season, taking game one over Bluffton University 11-5 before dropping game two in eight innings, 6-5.
 
Game 1: Adrian 11, Bluffton 5

The Bulldogs got off to strong start to Sunday afternoon, posting a season-high 11 runs and 14 hits en route to a game one victory.

Lauren McCulligh opened the scoring for the visitors in their first plate appearance, singling down the left field line to plate Maggie Leveille. The senior was subsequently brought back home on the next at-bat by Katie Connolly, giving Adrian an early 2-0 lead.

After the Beavers picked up a tally in the bottom of the second inning, the 'Dogs returned to work with another pair of runs in the top half of the fourth, courtesy of RBI-hits by Leveille and Hailey DeChalk. Then, in the following frame, the black and gold turned up the heat.

On a 2-1 count to the Bulldogs' lead-off batter Connolly, the senior cued up a perfect swing and sent the ball to its new home over the left field fence. This RBI was followed up by a single from Brynn McKay, who was later plated by a double from Paige Stein.

The fifth-inning barrage continued on the very next at-bat, as DeChalk got a piece of one into center field to bring around Stein, making it a 7-1 Adrian advantage. Leveille kept the locals rolling soon after with a base-hit to the left side, then Ava Ferrarelli put an exclamation point on the inning with a two-run RBI-double to score DeChalk and pinch-runner Makenzi Johnson.

Bluffton tacked on a second run in the following half-inning to keep the game alive, but Adrian was not done scoring either. In the top leg of the sixth, Mackenzie Melody notched her first RBIs since the season-opener against Chatham, knocking a two-run double into right field to bring across Meghan Lupu and Connolly.

From there, relief-pitcher Macee Schang and the Bulldog defense came through to seal the win, despite a late push by the home team.

In all, nine different Adrian batters recorded hits, including DeChalk, Ferrarelli and Connolly, who each contributed two hits and two RBIs.

In the circle, Natalie Mathers was credited with her fourth win of 2022, striking out a season-high seven over 5.1 innings of work.
 
Game 2: Adrian 5, Bluffton 6 (8 Innings)

In game two of Sunday afternoon's doubleheader, the Bulldogs battled back from a three-run deficit, but ultimately fell in extra-innings.

The homestanding Beavers struck first in this outing, taking advantage of a series of fielding miscues to build a 3-0 cushion after one inning.

After back-to-back scoreless frames to follow, Adrian broke the drought in the fourth, beginning with a Connolly double to left center field, her third multi-base hit of the day. Two at-bats later, Keira Stampfly singled home her teammate to get the 'Dogs on the scoreboard.

Then, later in the frame, Lupu drew Adrian level with a two-out RBI-single to score Melody and pinch-runner Johnson.  

In the following inning, the black and gold garnered another big moment with two outs on the board, this time off the bat of McKay, who delivered a double to deep center field to plate Connolly and Genna Marasco, pushing the visitors ahead, 5-3.

Adrian would carry its lead late into the seventh inning, but Bluffton continued to fight, scoring two runs to force extras before walking-off in the bottom half of the eighth inning.

Lupu paced the Bulldog offense in game two with three hits and two RBIs, while Leveille added two hits.

On the rubber, Schang, again stepped up in relief and went to retire a career-best eight on strikes.
 
With their penultimate non-conference match-up out of the way, the 'Dogs resume in-league action on Wednesday at home against Olivet College. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
 
 
  Read Full Article