ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian College baseball team made history on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 19) beating #1 Heidelberg, 2-1, in 10 innings. It is the first win over the top-ranked team for the Bulldogs. Adrian (5-3) has now defeated two teams currently ranked in the top eight in NCAA Division III.
Heidelberg lost for the first time this season and are currently 10-1 overall. The 'Berg won the 2010 Mideast Regional and went 2-2 in the 2010 Division III World Series. The Bulldogs got to All-American closer Andy Lowe in the bottom of the 10th for the game-winning run. Sophomore Cody Meyer led off the inning with a chopper down the third base line and beat out the throw to first base for a single. Sophomore Andrew DeLuca put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Meyer to second. Senior Brian Bilius then grounded out to third for the second out. Senior Jake Cappelletty then played the part of hero with a two-out RBI single to left field on a 2-2 pitch which scored Meyer from second without a play at the plate.
Heidelberg got on the board first in the top of the second without the aid of a hit. Alex Monroe walked to lead off the inning and Derek Andrzejczak followed with a walk. Both runners then moved up on a passed ball before a strikeout by Andrew Buelow. Jordan Martin then had a sacrifice fly to left which scored Monroe.
Adrian got the tying run in the seventh inning off starter Ethan Holt. Senior Joe Dubina lead off the inning with a single to right and advanced to second on a balk with two outs. DeLuca then singled to left which scored Dubina. Adrian threatened in the eighth after a lead off double by Bilius, the only extra base hit in the game for Adrian. He moved to third on a Cappelletty sacrifice bunt with one out. Nate Sarkissian struck out swinging and Kyle Strawn flew out to left to end the threat. Lowe entered the game after the Bilius double.
Ryan Domschot and Jason Fryman combined to limit the Student Princes to five hits on the afternoon. Domschot got the start and went six innings. He allowed just one hit and no earned runs with a career-high six walks and six strikeouts. He pitched out of trouble several times putting two runners on base to start the first, second and fourth innings. Fryman did great in relief throwing the last four innings and allowing four hits and no runs with two walks and two strikeouts. He is now 1-0 this season on the mound.
Lowe took the loss despite fanning four in 2.2 innings of work. Holt went seven innings for Heidelberg and gave up six hits, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts. Monroe went 2-for-3 for the Student Princes. Meyer went 2-for-4 with the winning run for the Bulldogs.