WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Adrian College Softball team faced Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the first game where the Bulldogs fell short 2-0 and Marian University in the second game with the 13-5 win in five innings on Tuesday morning. 

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1 

Adrian struggled to generate offense in the game, managing just one hit, a well-placed double in the top of the seventh from senior Maggie Leveille that broke up the perfect game.

Despite the tough outcome, senior Macee Schang delivered a strong performance on the mound. Though she took the loss, Schang went six innings, striking out five while allowing just four hits and two runs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2 

Adrian came out with renewed energy in the second game, jumping to a 3-2 lead after the first inning. Freshman Karsyn Malinich got things rolling with a double down the left field line, bringing home sophomore Taylor Gerhardt, who had singled earlier in the inning. Senior Maggie Leveille then delivered a bomb to dead center, a 2-run homer that gave the Bulldogs the lead in her first at-bat.

As the lineup turned over, Malinich roped a single up the middle, driving in Gerhardt again. Leveille came up for her second at-bat and replicated her earlier performance, blasting another 2-run homer to extend Adrian's lead to 7-3 in back-to-back at-bats.

Marian answered with a run in the top of the fourth, but Adrian kept their foot on the gas. Freshman Kendra Clark contributed a double that brought in two more runs, pushing Adrian's advantage to 9-3. 

In the fifth, the Bulldogs continued to capitalize on the momentum, with all runners advancing a base, and senior Genna Marasco coming in to score off a passed ball. Malinich stayed red-hot, driving in senior Meghan Lupu to give Adrian an 11-5 lead. Junior Peyton Russell put the finishing touch on the game with a single to right, bringing home Malinich and triggering the mercy rule to seal the 13-5 victory.

Malinich was a standout, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Leveille was equally impressive, finishing 2-for-2 with four RBIs, three runs, and a walk. Her two home runs in the game marked her first multi-home run game of her collegiate career. Gerhardt contributed a stellar all-around performance, going 1-for-2 with four runs scored, three stolen bases, and a walk, helping lead the Bulldogs to a dominant 13-5 win over Marian University.

Freshman Avery Clark picked up her first collegiate win as a Bulldog. Clark had two strikeouts on four innings of work with four hits and three runs given up. 

Adrian is back in action on Thursday, March 6 where they will take on Illinois College at 11:15 AM and Concordia University (Wis.) at 4:15.