ALMA, Mich. - At Klenk Park, the Bulldog baseball team's penultimate conference-series with Alma College got off to a bumpy start for the black and gold. After a five-run third-inning by the homestanding Scots, the visitors orchestrated a comeback late, but could not make it stick, falling 7-3.
Despite the loss, junior
Don Goodes continued his strong-play for the 'Dogs as of late, posting his third three-hit effort in the last four games. His team-leading performance from the plate made up a third of Adrian's nine total hits, but the locals lacked the fire-power necessary to get something grinding offensively, stranding eight runners on base, including six in scoring position.
Alma, on the other hand, did what it needed to do to get runs on the board, and with four hits in the third frame, the home side tacked on a handful to put their opposition into an early hole.
After tallying another across the plate in the following inning, both offenses fell silent with a combined three hits between the fifth and seventh innings.
Then, in the eighth, the Bulldogs got their blood flowing.
Goodes led things off with one of his two doubles to center field, followed by a pinch-hit single by
Kevin Cardentey to set runners on the corners. On the next at-bat, A.J. Miranda managed to reach first base and advance pinch-runner
Andrew Atherton up 90 feet behind an infield miscue by the Scots. Afterwards, with the bases juiced, freshman
Ryan Davis drove a two-run double into left field, plating Goodes and Atherton.
Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly-out by
Aaron Valentine garnered enough time and space for Miranda to trot home from third, trimming the deficit to its ultimate resting place at four runs.
From there, the Alma defense held true, keeping the 'Dogs off the scoreboard in the ninth to preserve the win.
Michael Swanson (3-2) was credited with the loss on the mound after allowing four earned runs on seven hits through 3.2 innings of work.
Adrian and Alma continue their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Nicolay Field. Game one is slated for 1 p.m. start.
