KALAMAZOO, Mich. - At the Kalamazoo College Softball Field, the Bulldogs needed two trips to complete their final doubleheader of the 2022 campaign, visiting the Hornets for the season finale.


Game One: Adrian 3, Kalamazoo 8

On Saturday afternoon, the Hornets wasted no time defending their hive against the Bulldogs, swarming to an early seven-run lead that Adrian, ultimately could not overcome.

Over the first three innings of action, the home side managed eight of its game-high ten hits, going right after the local's starter Macee Schang.

On the other hand, Kalamazoo ace Sam Moss was solid in her complete-game effort, allowing just five hits while retiring nine on strikes.

The 'Dogs' offense found its way onto the scoreboard in the top leg of the fourth inning when Lauren McCulligh singled home Makenzi Johnson with a grounder up the middle.

Then, after the hosts tacked on their final run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth frame, the black and gold went on to add two more runs in the following half-inning, putting a little pressure on the Hornets' defense.

Meghan Lupu nabbed the first of those two tallies off of a successful steal of home plate, and Keira Stampfly would score soon after on a wild pitch, but that was all the visitors could muster up in their comeback attempt.

At the plate, five different Bulldogs posted hits, including a double from Hailey DeChalk.

 
Game Two: Adrian 9, Kalamazoo 12

Mother nature was only in the mood for one game over the weekend, forcing game two of this doubleheader to be completed on Monday afternoon.

Prior to that decision, the Bulldogs and the Hornets were knotted at 1-1, courtesy of a Kalamazoo RBI-single and a team-leading fourth home run by McCulligh to straight-away center field.

When the ballgame picked back up in the top of the second inning, it seemed that both offenses had found a new gear.

The Hornets struck first, finishing off the half-inning with a four-spot to move ahead 4-1. Then, in the bottom end of the third frame, the designated home team answered back.

Mackenzie Melody led things off by reaching safely on a Hornets' miscue. A subsequent passed ball and an infield single by Bethany Perry advanced the 'Dogs lead-off batter to the opposite corner, setting up DeChalk to drop an RBI-single into right field to bring Melody home.

Two at-bats later, McCulligh and Paige Stein rallied off back-to-back base-hits to plate Perry and DeChalk, tying the game at 4-4.

Adrian kept its mojo flowing later in the inning, as Stampfly joined in with an infield hit of her own to score McCulligh and give the Bulldogs the lead.

Madison Cvengros pushed across two addition runs for the locals on the next at-bat, sending a single to the left side to bring around Stampfly and Stein, and increase the black and gold's advantage to 7-4.

Despite the offensive burst from the 'Dogs, the Hornets came right back with a crooked five -piece in the top of the fourth, thus restoring their lead to 9-7.

The designated visitors put up another odd number two innings later, which proved to be the difference.

McCulligh ended game two with three hits and two RBIs, and Cvengros finished with 3 RBIs on two hits, including one double.
 

Monday marked the conclusion of the Bulldog softball team's 2022 season. The team ends with a 10-26 overall record, with four victories coming in-conference.

Katie Connolly, Ally Harry, Natalie Mathers, Lauren McCulligh, Katy McGarry, Bethany Perry and Keira Stampfly each drew their respective Adrian College careers to a close as well.