MARIETTA, Ohio — Adrian senior right fielder Andrew Anderson was having an uncharacteristically bad game at the plate in the first game of the Mideast Regional Wednesday (May 19, 2010) morning. [Box Score] [Photo Gallery]

Then came the top of the 10th inning. Anderson, who leads off for the Bulldogs, delivered the game's biggest hit as he singled home Steve Vanderheyden with the game-winning run as Adrian defeated Washington & Jefferson 9-7 in extra innings at Don Schaly Stadium. Adrian is back in action later today against top-seed Heidelberg. The final game of the day is tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m.

"At that point I was just trying to clear my head and find a pitch I could drive," Anderson said. "I found a pitch inside and I drove it into the outfield, which is what I was looking to do. Our team really battled in this one."

Adrian coach Craig Rainey was confident Anderson would deliver in the clutch.

"We stress to our guys to not let things get to them mentally … to get ready for that next at bat," Rainey said. "He didn't let those first five at bats worry him. That last at bat was his biggest of the day and he delivered for us."

Anderson's game-winner almost never happened as the Presidents (32-11) appeared headed to a victory in the bottom of the ninth on Joe Bogdewiecz' line drive to center. But Vanderheyden made a game-saving grab to force extra innings.

"(Vanderheyden) bailed us out," Rainey said. "I got my heart back out of my stomach then."

Adrian added an insurance run in the 10th when Anderson scored on Alex Cowart's single to left. Cowart, who is hitting .493 on the season, finished 5-for-6 with two runs.

As big as Anderson's hit was, the Bulldogs were also fortunate to get a solid relief performance from David Partyka (8-1). He tossed the final four innings and allowed four hits and two runs, but closed the door in the last two innings.

"I was trying to go out there an throw as many strikes as I could, but in the first few innings I didn't have what I wanted," said Partyka, who was making his first relief appearance this season. "The final two innings I got into a groove and my change up was diving real good toward the later half of game."

Rainey said Partyka is a workhorse and he was going to stick with him for as long as necessary.

"Dave has been a starter all year so you don't get that same warm up time," Rainey said. "When you come in a relief role the pressure is on you right away. He's been a money guy for us all year."

Adrian appeared to take control of the game with four runs in the seventh inning, but W&J answered with three in the bottom half of the inning and another run off Partyka in the eighth on Andy Trettel's RBI single.

Adrian opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. With two out, first baseman Jake Cappelletty singled to center off Jim Pasquine bringing home Alex Cowart and Cody Meyer.

W&J answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Starting pitcher Ryan Domschot got the first two Presidents' batters out before walking consecutive hitters. Frank Quirin responded with a single to right that scored Pasquine.

"We gave them opportunities and second lives a couple of times," Rainey said. "We just keep preaching to carry yourself professionally and stop the big innings."

Cappelletty finished 2-for-5 with three RBI for Adrian, while Vanderheyden also had two hits. Bogdewiecz paced W&J with three hits, while Quirin was 2-for-4 and Mike Kennedy 2-for-5.