EASTLAKE, Ohio – The Adrian College baseball team kept its season alive on Sunday afternoon, defeating Rowan University, 4-1, in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III College World Series. The No. 7-seeded Bulldogs earned the victory behind a complete-game performance from Sean Parker on the mound, eliminating the No. 2-seeded Profs for the second time in the tournament.
Adrian struck first in the third inning. Jack Boike reached base and later scored on an RBI single by Rolando Jimenez. Gabe Jones followed with an RBI single of his own, driving in Jimenez to extend the lead to 2-0. Although the Bulldogs left the bases loaded, they carried momentum into the fourth inning when Nic Bruder drove in Aiden Melvin on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0.
Rowan threatened in the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out against Parker. The Bulldogs' defense responded with one of the biggest plays of the game as Bruder fielded a ground ball at shortstop, stepped on second base, and fired to first to complete an inning-ending double play and preserve the shutout.
The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh inning. Jimenez opened the frame with a double to right field after the ball was lost in the sun. He advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher and later scored on a fielder's choice from Jaxon McGuigan, pushing Adrian's advantage to 4-0. Rowan answered with its lone run in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit to 4-1.
Parker continued to cruise through the late innings and returned to the mound in the ninth looking to finish what he started. After recording a flyout and a groundout to begin the inning, Parker allowed two runners to reach base before inducing a game-ending ground ball to third. Jimenez stepped on the bag for the final out, sealing the victory and extending Adrian's season.
Jimenez paced the Bulldogs offensively with three hits and two runs scored. Jones, McGuigan, and Boike each added two hits in the winning effort.
Parker was outstanding on the mound, tossing a complete-game nine-hitter while allowing just one run and striking out three.
With the win, Adrian advances to the championship round of its four-team bracket and will face No. 6-seeded Endicott in a rematch beginning at 1:15 p.m. The Bulldogs must defeat Endicott twice to advance to the NCAA Division III National Championship Series.
