The Adrian baseball team (35-12) went 2-2 last week in the Regional round of the 2018 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship, hosted by Adrian May 17-21, as the Bulldogs advanced to the tournament's fourth day, falling just short of Monday's championship game.
The Bulldogs started their NCAA postseason with an 11-5 win over No. 2 seed Otterbein May 17, fueled by a complete-game win from Tommy Parsons. Parsons struck out six while walking two and scattering nine hits; offensively, the Bulldogs received a 3-for-6 day from Brady Wood in the No. 3 spot, including a double as well as three RBI and a run.
With weather causing re-schedules throughout the five-day event, Adrian's second game against No. 2 seed LaRoche was pushed to early Saturday. But the Bulldogs didn't buckle, as Adrian posted a 1-0 win over La Roche to advance in the winners' bracket. Pierce Banks and Jordan Williams combined for the shutout win, with Banks notching nine strikeouts to just two walks and four hits in eight innings. Gunner Rainey went 3-for-4 in the morning, and scored the game's decisive run in the sixth inning.
Adrian could not keep momentum, however, as top-seeded and eventual Regional Champion Wooster upended the host Bulldogs later on Saturday, 17-4. Rainey kept pace for the day with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate.
Adrian was then eliminated by No. 8 seed Wabash Sunday, 4-0, as the Bulldogs were held to just three hits. Jordan Williams took his first loss of the season in 7 1/3 innings of work, which included three strikeouts.
Winners of the eight regional tournaments will qualify for the pool play double-elimination championship at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin, Friday- Tuesday/Wednesday, May 25- 29/30, 2018.
Tournament links
NCAA Division III Baseball page
2018 NCAA Division III Baseball bracket announcement
2018 NCAA Division III Baseball interactive bracket