ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College softball team welcomed Albion College for a Friday afternoon doubleheader. The Bulldogs stormed in game one 7-0 and 12-5 in 10 innings in game two.

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1:

The Bulldogs came out swinging in game one of their doubleheader, setting the tone early with an explosive first inning. Abbie Hoff ignited the offense with a double to left, driving in Meghan Lupu and Taylor Gerhardt to open the scoring. Moments later, Hailey DeChalk followed suit with a double down the left field line to plate Hoff.

The fireworks didn't stop there, Karsyn Malinich stepped up and delivered a towering three-run homer, giving Adrian a commanding 6-0 lead before the first inning had even ended.

From there, both teams settled into a defensive rhythm through the middle innings, but the Bulldogs struck again in the sixth. Hoff continued her stellar day at the plate with her second double of the game, bringing home Lupu for the final run in a 7-0 victory.

In the circle, Macee Schang was dominant. She tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits, striking out three, and keeping the opposing offense off the board.

Hoff led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Gerhardt added a 2-for-4 performance with a run, while Malinich went 2-for-3, highlighted by her three-run blast.

HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2:

Game two of the doubleheader brought more fireworks for the Bulldogs, who once again struck early. Meghan Lupu crossed the plate in the first inning on an RBI single from Hailey DeChalk, giving Adrian a quick 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, the Bulldogs padded their advantage with a three-run burst. Lupu delivered a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single from Abbie Hoff and another run-scoring double by DeChalk, stretching the lead to 4-0 after four innings.

Albion, however, wouldn't go quietly. They rallied late, tying the game in the seventh and sending it into extra innings. Neither team could break through in the eighth or ninth, as tension built with each pitch.

Then came the tenth, and the Bulldogs broke it wide open.

Adrian erupted for eight runs in the top of the 10th, starting with a clutch two-run single from Genna Marasco that brought home Maggie Leveille and Alaina Craig. A fielding error allowed two more runs to score as Marasco and Taylor Gerhardt touched home. Not done yet, Marasco came up to bat again in the same inning and delivered another blow, a sharp single up the middle to drive in Karsyn Malinich and Kendra Clark, capping the offensive onslaught.

Avery Clark earned the win in relief, tossing five strong innings. She scattered five hits, allowed three runs, and racked up eight strikeouts in a gritty performance.

The Bulldogs' offense was fueled by monster performances at the plate. Marasco went 4-for-6 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while DeChalk was nearly unstoppable, going 5-for-6 with three RBIs. Lupu added a 1-for-3 day with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday, April 22 where they will host Capital University for a doubleheader. The first pitch of the first game is set for 3:00 PM.