KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Adrian College baseball team played in the first round of the MIAA Conference Tournament on Wednesday on the road at Kalamazoo College. The No. 3 Bulldogs took on the No. 2 Hornets looking to advance to the winner's bracket championship game. The Bulldogs took an early lead, but Kalamazoo battled back to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth and defeat Adrian 7-6.
 
The Bulldogs got on the board first in the top of the third on a RBI from Gus Weaks to score Aaron Valentine who started the inning with a single. Later in the inning, Thomas Miller made it a 3-0 lead with a 2-RBI single to left field to score Kevin Cardentey and Weaks.
 
Kalamazoo responded in the fourth on a 2-RBI single with the bases loaded followed by a sacrifice fly to tie the game 3-3. Adrian took the lead again in the sixth on a single from Cardentey, but Kalamazoo fought back to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the inning.
 
Valentine picked up his third hit of the game in the seventh resulting in a 2-RBI single to retake the lead, 6-4. Kalamazoo battled back in the bottom half of the inning scoring on a RBI single and a bases loaded walk to tie the game 6-6. Kalamazoo went on to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth to send Adrian to the consolation bracket.
 
Swanson got the start on the mound last three innings allowing three runs on five hits. Gage Ricker allowed one run in 2.2 innings pitched while Luc St. Antoine allowed a pair of runs in 1.2 innings pitched and Jacob Hanoian allowed a run to record the loss.
 
At the plate, Valentine led the offense with three hits and two RBIs. Cardentey, Miller, Easton Rogers and Weaks each added a pair of hits.
 
The Bulldogs will face Calvin University at Hope College tomorrow at 1:00 PM in an elimination game.