KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College baseball team defeated Adrian 7-6 on a bases loaded walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament Wednesday at Woodworth Field.
Spencer Baldwin was hit by pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth. After advancing to second on a passed ball, Baldwin moved to third when Harrison Poeszat reached first on an error during a sacrifice bunt. Lukas Bolton was intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out. Noah Hecht ripped the first pitch down the third base line into left field to plate the winning run followed by a Hornet celebration.
Adrian got on the board first with three runs in the top of the third. Kalamazoo tied it with three runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Cooper Mills' 2-run single and Ben Chosid's sacrifice fly.
Adrian pulled ahead with a run in the sixth, but Kalamazoo countered again with a run on Max Gordon's sacrifice fly in the bottom half.
Adrian took a 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh, but the Hornets came back again with two in the bottom of the eighth on a Gordon RBI single and a bases loaded walk to Blake Bean.
Doug Propson came in to pitch in the ninth. After walking the first batter, he got the next three batters to send it to the dramatic finish in the bottom of the ninth.
Adrian finished the game with 12 hits compared to eight by Kalamazoo.
Harrison Poeszat and Noah Hecht each had two hits. Hecht had a double.
Cooper Mills had a double while driving in two runs. Max Gordon also drove in two runs.
With the win, Kalamazoo advances to play Hope in the winner's bracket on Thursday, May 12. That game is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Hope.
Ticket and parking information can be found at https://athletics.hope.edu/sports/bsb/2021-22/releases/20220509evzsv2
MIAA Tournament Central: https://miaa.org/sports/bsb/2021-22/releases/TournamentCentral