ADRIAN, Mich. -- Adrian College claimed the 2021 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Baseball Tournament crown after winning the Pool A tournament bracket last week, along the Championship Series versus Hope this week.
A 13-inning game on May 19 opened the Championship Series between the Bulldogs and the Flying Dutchmen. Evan Maday of Hope scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, but Adrian took the lead shortly after with three-straight runs. Following two scoreless innings, the Flying Dutchmen snatched back the lead with four runs over the next four innings, including a homer by Bryant Kym. Brandon Cooper of Adrian decided that the Bulldogs were not done yet, tying the score 5-5 at the bottom of the ninth. Another scoreless 3.5 innings was ended by Adrian's Brady Wood when he scored the final point of the game at the bottom of the 13th for a 6-5 win.
Game two started with a 16-run streak by the Bulldogs over 4.5 innings, including homers by Tristin Richardson and Gunner Rainey. The Flying Dutchmen gained momentum over the next two innings with six-straight runs (16-6). The comeback was not enough for Hope, however, and Adrian closed the game out with an additional two runs for a final score of 19-6.
Adrian receives the automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. The baseball championship bracket will be released by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 23, with the first games scheduled for June 4.
MIAA Tournament Results | May 12-14
Tournament Brackets | Pool A | Pool B
Game #1 (Pool A) - #5 Alma 4, #4 Kalamazoo 3
Game #1 (Pool B) - #3 Calvin 4, #6 Albion 2
Game #2 (Pool A) - #1 Adrian 13, #8 Olivet 2
Game #2 (Pool B) - #2 Hope 4, #7 Trine 2
Game #3 (Pool A) - #1 Adrian 3, #5 Alma 1
Game #3 (Pool B) - #2 Hope 6, #3 Calvin 1
Game #4 (Pool A) - #4 Kalamazoo 18, #8 Olivet 4
Game #4 (Pool B) - #6 Albion 9, #7 Trine 6 (11 innings)
Game #5 (Pool A) - #4 Kalamazoo 8, #5 Alma 5
Game #5 (Pool B) - #6 Albion 8, #3 Calvin 6
Game #6 (Pool A) - #1 Adrian 9, #4 Kalamazoo 2
Game #6 (Pool B) - #2 Hope 24, #6 Albion 14
