KENTWOOD, Mich. - The conference woes continued for the Adrian College softball team on Thursday afternoon, as the 'Dogs were taken out of playoff contention with back-to-back losses to Calvin University at the Gainey Athletic Facility.
 
Game 1: Adrian 5, Calvin 12

In the first edition of Thursday's doubleheader, the visitors battled back from an early deficit, but could not fend off the homestanding Knights down the stretch.

Ava Ferrarelli helped Adrian open the scoring in the top half of the first inning, doubling home Hailey DeChalk to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

Calvin made a swift response, however, dropping four runs on two hits in their first plate appearance of the day to take a quick, 4-1 advantage.

Over the next two frames, the black and gold pulled back into the picture. After a lead-off groundout to begin the second inning, Mackenzie Melody stepped up and knocked three-base hit to deep center, then was subsequently plated on a wild pitch to cut the 'Dogs' deficit in half.

Then, in the third inning, with Flesia Borck and Ferrarelli occupying first and second base, Brynn McKay connected on her first of two hits on the day to plate them both and knot the game at 4-4.

The Knights did not waste much time restoring their lead in the bottom leg of the fourth, and after Adrian tacked on a fifth run in the sixth inning, the home side found an extra gear.

On four hits, Calvin posted a crooked-six tallies in the same inning, expanding its cushion to seven runs and holding on from there.

McKay's two hits and two RBIs were both team-highs for the Bulldogs in the first game, while six other Adrian batters each registered a hit apiece.

 
Game 2: Adrian 3, Calvin 7

In game two, the 'Dogs were, again, fighting from behind early, and for a second-straight outing, the Knights struck for four runs in the first inning.

After consecutive scoreless half-innings, the black and gold got one back off of a bases-loaded walk in the bottom end of the second.

Calvin, though, added another odd number in the top of the third frame, going ahead 7-1 just like that.

Adrian tried to get the gears grinding in the following half-inning, leading-off with a single by Maggie Leveille. The freshman made her way across the dirt-diamond thanks to a walk to Ferrarelli and a base-hit by Lauren McCulligh. She was then finally plated off the bat of Katie Connolly, who drove a single into right field to trim the Knights' lead down to four runs.

That was as close as the locals could get for the remainder of the game, despite a strong showing from Bulldog reliever Macee Schang, as she worked through five innings without surrendering a run, allowing only two hits and retiring nine on strikes.

Offensively for the series, Savannah Godfrey closed with a team-high three hits, including two in the second game, one of which being a double.


The Bulldog softball team will draw its 2022 season to an end on Saturday morning at Kalamazoo College with a doubleheader against the Hornets. First-pitch is slated for 11 a.m.