WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Adrian College softball team recorded a 4-3 come from behind victory over Bridgewater College in game one of Tuesday's doubleheader. In game two, the Bulldogs concluded the day with a 4-3 win against Houghton College. In game one, Karson Bagelmann recorded a game high two hits, while in game two, she would have a game high three hits. 

Game One 

The Bulldogs would begin day two in Florida against Bridgewater College Tuesday afternoon. In game one, after trailing 3-2, the Bulldogs would score two unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win its fifth straight game of the season. Early in the bottom of the first, the softball team faced their third deficit of the season, down 2-0 to Bridgewater. Although the Bulldogs were down early, their play never faltered. In the top of the second inning, Adrian College would respond with two runs of their own, tying the game up at 2-2. With one out in the inning, junior Savannah Godfrey knocked one out of the park, to bring the Bulldogs within one. Later in the inning, Meghan Lupu would reach first on a fielder's choice. After a single by junior Flesia Borck, Lupu would advance to third, bringing Bagelmann to the plate. With two outs, Bagelmann reached first on an error by the Bridgewater third baseman awarding her an RBI in the process with Lupu scoring. 

Later in the bottom of the second inning, Bridgewater would take a 3-2 lead. The Eagles would record a walk and two hits during their first four at bats, to drive in the go ahead run. Over the next four innings both teams would be held scoreless until the Bulldogs tied up the game in the pivotal seventh inning. Facing their potential last three outs, Lupu would begin the inning with a single through the right side. Now Borck with no outs in the inning was up to bat. After hitting the sacrifice, Brock drove in Lupu to tie the game up at three all. In the bottom of the seventh, Macee Schang would record a one-two-three inning to advance the game into extra innings. 

During the top of the eighth inning, the Bulldogs would complete the comeback. With Marasco placed on second base, Hailey DeChalk popped out to right field bringing Maggie Leveille up to bat. Marasco would take advantage of the defensive miscues of Bridgewater and stole third. Now with the go ahead run on third, Leveille would ground out, driving in Marasco. In the bottom of the eighth, the sophomore Schang would pitch, while McKay shifted to second base. Schang would have little difficulty closing the game, as Bridgewater would go one-two-three to end the contest. Schang recorded back-to-back pop outs and the game winning strikeout, improving the Bulldogs to 5-0 on the early season.    

Top Dawgs 

Bagelmann would lead all players with two hits in the afternoon during her four appearances at the plate. Godfrey would have the game's lone home run. With her homer, Godfrey has now hit two home runs in her past eight at bats.   

Game Two 

The Bulldogs would never trail in their second game of the afternoon versus Houghton College. Continuing the momentum from game one's victory, the Adrian College softball team would score the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Bagleman would start the inning with a leadoff single. Genna Marasco would follow suit, singling off of a line drive to put two on with nobody out in the first. DeChalk would bat next, grounding out to first and also drove in Bagelmann during the play to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. 

After a quick one-two-three inning in the top of the second, McKay would walk with one out putting a runner on at first. With two outs Bagleman would return to the plate. This time, she would double on a line drive to left field, scoring McKay. 

Houghton College would score in the third and fourth innings to tie the game up at 2-2. During the top of the sixth, Houghton would eventually tie the game off of a sacrifice fly to center field. Schang would respond and struck out two consecutive batters heading into the bottom half of the inning. 

Lupu would start off the bottom of the sixth with a walk, and Borck would follow, bunting into fielder's choice. With one out, Borck would steal second and Bagelmann would walk, putting two on and one out for the Bulldogs. Over the next two at bats, Marasco would fly out to center field, and Dechalk would advance to first after getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Despite putting pressure on the defense, Leveille would fly out to end the inning. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Ava Ferrarelli would get things started with a line drive single. Next with Godfrey up to bat, she would hit a sacrifice to advance Ferrarelli closer to home. Ferrarelli would eventually score with McKay up to bat: McKay would ground out during the next play driving Ferrarelli with the game winning run, which solidified the Bulldogs sixth win in a row to start the 2023 campaign. 

Top Dawgs 

Bagelmann would lead all players in hits again, this time with three after her three for three performance in game two. 

Historical Notes 

With the two wins Tuesday, the Adrian College softball program has started 6-0 for the fourth time since the 2007 season, with 2015 marking their latest undefeated start through six games prior to this year.  

Up Next

The Adrian College softball team will continue play in Winterhaven, Florida, with a double header Thursday against Milwaukee School of Engineering and Chatham University. Game one will take place at 2:00 PM, while game two will follow at 4:30 PM.