Story by Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College baseball team dropped two games to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Adrian Sunday, April 27 falling 4-1 in game one and 10-3 in game two.
In game one, Adrian scored a single run in the second, third, and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. Kalamazoo would not score until the bottom of the sixth. In the frame, senior Mark Zughaib singled to center field and freshman Mitchell VanKoevering followed with a single through the left side. Junior Carter Chandler singled up the middle driving in Zughaib. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the threat ended with a double play.
Kalamazoo totaled five hits, each by different players, in the first game compared to eight for Adrian. Hornet freshman Aaron Schwark took his first collegiate loss surrendering two earned runs in five innings of work. Sophomore Zack Cole came in for the sixth inning and retired the Bulldogs in order.
Adrian wasted no time getting on the board in game two scoring a pair of runs in the first and another in the second off of Kalamazoo starter Nic Janssen.
In the fourth inning with VanKoevering on base, Chandler grinded out a 14-pitch at bat which yielded a triple to right center field. Freshman Ian Kobernick popped up to second base to end the inning.
After Adrian scored a single run in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-1 lead, Chandler delivered once again with a double down the right field line plating two Hornets to get K within two runs.
Enter Ryan Dorow. Adrian's freshman shortstop hit his third home run of the day in the top of the seventh inning. The blast came with the bases loaded putting the game out of reach.
Chandler had all three RBI's for K and went 3-3 in the second game. Janssen took the loss allowing two earned runs in 4.1 innings.
Kalamazoo falls to 14-19 on the season and 12-12 in MIAA play. The Hornets have a non-conference doubleheader with Rochester scheduled for Thursday, May 1 before finishing its regular season with a 4-game series with Trine.