ALMA, Mich. – The Adrian College softball team saw its historic season come to an end Friday afternoon after a 10 inning 3-2 defeat to Calvin University in the MIAA Tournament semifinal. Five Bulldogs would record a hit in the extra innings loss, including Maggie Leveille and Peyton Russell, who tied for a team high 1 RBI.
On Friday, Adrian College would take a 2-0 lead early over the Knights during the top of the first inning. With two outs and nobody on, Hailey DeChalk would advance after a fielding error from Calvin's second baseman. During the play, DeChalk would reach second base. The Bulldog's next batter, Russell, would drive DeChalk home to give Adrian College a 1-0 lead after hitting a single down the right field line. The offense would continue for the Bulldogs in the first inning with Leville. The sophomore would hit a left field double, scoring Russell in the process, to increase Adrian's lead to 2-0 early in the contest Friday.
In the bottom of the first inning, Calvin would respond with a run of their own to cut Adrian's lead to 2-1. Later in the top of the third with two outs and nobody on, DeChalk would triple and put pressure on Calvin's defense. Despite the threat from DeChalk, the Bulldogs were unable to bring her home. Both teams would be held at a standstill until the Knights eventually tied the game during the bottom of the fifth inning at two all. After the Knights forced the Bulldogs into a one-two-three top of the fifth, Calvin would record one run off of three singles in the bottom half of the inning.
The defense intensified for both teams, and the battle would continue into extra innings. From the sixth to the eighth inning, Adrian and Calvin would combine for five hits and no runs. Later, in the top of the ninth, Adrian College was able to find a way to load the bases against the Knights. To lead off the inning, Paige Stein reached first after a Calvin fielding error and Meghan Lupu would follow with a sacrifice bunt to advance pinch runner Shaw to second. Later with two outs remaining in the inning, Genna Marasco walked, bringing Flesia Borck up to bat. Borck would hit a clutch sacrifice bunt down the first base line to advance the baserunners to second and third base. With two outs, Bagelmann remained composed and walked to load the bases with two outs. Despite the threat, the Bulldogs were held scoreless in the inning. During the bottom half of the inning, Adrian College limited Calvin to two singles and zero runs.
In the top of the 10th and final inning with two outs, Leveille was able to reach first on a fielding error by Calvin's shortstop. However, the Bulldogs failed to score the sophomore. In the bottom of the 10th, Calvin would record two hits and score the winning run after reaching home on a passed ball.
