ADRIAN, Mich. -- The No. 17 Adrian College baseball team dropped game one of the NCAA Division III Super Regional round on Thursday afternoon at Nicolay Field, falling 3-2 to No. 31 Bethany Lutheran College in a tightly contested pitchers' duel.
The Bulldogs stuck first in the bottom of the third earlier in the game with a two-run single from Rolando Jimenez to take a 2-0 advantage, but The Vikings struck in the fourth inning on a solo home run to cut the Bulldogs lead to one.
After Bethany Lutheran cut the deficit to 2-1, the visitors gained the lead in the sixth inning. Following a pair of baserunners and a sacrifice bunt, the Vikings delivered a two-run single to right field to put them ahead 3-2.
Bruder led the Bulldogs offensively with two hits and a run scored, while Jimenez drove in both Adrian runs with his third inning single. Jake Burns added a double in the seventh inning for Adrian's lone extra-base hit.
On the mound, Landon Kozlowski suffered his first loss of the season despite allowing three runs over five innings with three strikeouts. Sean Parker provided four strong innings in relief, allowing no earned runs and striking out three.
The Bulldogs and Vikings will return to Nicolay Field on Saturday for game two of the NCAA Super Regional. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. with Adrian needing a win to force a decisive game three.
