ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College baseball team hosted a doubleheader with the Otterbein University Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon in nonconference action. After dropping a game to Otterbein earlier in the season 10-5, the Bulldogs looked to bounce back and take the season series with a sweep. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were only able to take one as they split Wednesday's doubleheader with a 4-2 win in game one followed by a 5-3 loss in game two.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
Otterbein got on the board early striking for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals loaded the bases early and scored on a RBI single and a bases loaded walk to lead 2-0 after the first inning. The Bulldogs fought back in the third inning on a 2-RBI single from Don Goodes to tie the game which was followed by a sacrifice fly to score Owen Brown during the next at bat to lead 3-2. In the sixth inning, Adrian picked up an insurance run on a wild pitch that bounced off the plate and exited the stadium to make it a 4-2 game which was held on to win.
 
The Bulldogs pitched by committee with Michael Swanson going one inning to start the game followed by three from Garrett Lussier who picked up the win, followed by two scoreless from Tripp Russo, and an inning from Jacob Hanoian who recorded the save. Hanoian's save marked his seventh of the season and ties the all-time record in Adrian College baseball history for saves at 13 with Chris Dubbs who set the record from 1994-97.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
Similar events to game one started Otterbein off with a four-run first inning. Otterbein scored three on a bases clearing double which advanced the hitter to third on an outfield error. The next play resulted in a ground out to score the runner on third and give Otterbein the early 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs got on the board in the third inning on a RBI single from Linken Hayward followed by a single from Goodes to make it a 4-2 game. Otterbein added a run in the top of the fifth which was answered by a RBI double from Nathan Grega in the sixth for the Bulldogs, but it wasn't enough as Otterbein came away with the game two victory at 5-3.
 
Adrian finished the game with eight hits led by Dylan Johnson who recorded two on three at bats with a run scored.
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs have a tough weekend ahead of them with a three-game series against Kalamazoo as they look to lock up the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament. With a sweep over the Hornets this weekend, the Bulldogs will grab the second seed for the tournament and host a first round game, but a loss could send the Bulldogs on the road for the first round. Adrian will begin the series with Kalamazoo on Saturday as they host the doubleheader with game one starting at 1:00 PM from Nicolay Field.