BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – The Adrian College NCBA Division III baseball team opened the Battle Creek Blast with a 15-9 victory over Grand Valley State University on Friday night at Bailey Park. The Bulldogs collected 12 hits and scored in five innings to improve to 3-2 on the season.
Adrian struck first in the opening inning. Adam Lashaway drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single from Nate Lindner before Gage Hreben drove him home with a sacrifice fly.
Grand Valley State answered with four runs in the bottom of the first, but the Bulldogs erased the deficit with three runs in the third. Lindner singled, stole second and third, and scored when Carson Boike reached on an error. Bryan Covel followed with an RBI single to score Hreben before McCauley White drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Boike and tie the game at 4-4.
The Bulldogs broke the game open with seven runs in the fourth inning. Lashaway and Lindner opened the frame with singles before Sam Sipe was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hreben delivered a two-run single to give Adrian a 6-4 lead.
Boike reached on an error before Covel drew a bases-loaded walk to force home another run. Carson Meister followed with an RBI single, White was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Landon Agosta drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly to extend the Adrian lead to 11-4.
Grand Valley State scored once in the bottom of the fourth, but the Bulldogs added another run in the sixth when Lindner singled home Ellis Threadcraft.
Adrian tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh. Hreben led off with a double and scored when Meister reached on a fielder's choice. White drew a walk before Agosta doubled to center field to drive in Meister and White, giving the Bulldogs a 15-5 advantage.
Grand Valley State scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Adrian closed out the 15-9 victory.
Lindner led the Bulldogs at the plate, finishing 4-for-6 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Hreben went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs, while Agosta drove in four runs. Meister added two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Josh Cornett worked the final five innings on the mound, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits while striking out two. Justin Bland started and pitched the opening two innings.
The Bulldogs will continue play at the Battle Creek Blast on Saturday, Sept. 26. Adrian will face the University of Michigan-Flint at 2:30 p.m. before taking on Miami University at 5 p.m.
