RICHMOND, Ind. — Earlham College celebrated the dedication of Randal R. Sadler Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but on the field the results didn't match the pregame excitement.

The Quakers fell twice to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader. Rose-Hulman won the first game 7-5 and then took the second 3-1.

Combined with the other results around the league, Anderson University (20-10, 12-7) and Bluffton University (19-12, 12-7) are tied for the top spot. The Quakers (22-8, 11-7) and Rose-Hulman (17-12, 11-7) are locked up in third place heading into Sunday's series finale between the two squads that gets underway at noon.

Earlham Head Coach Steve Sakosits was pleased with turnout.

"I thought it was great," Sakosits said. "That was definitely a special time and I'm glad people were able to come in and see that part of it."

Earlham senior Josh Parr was excited to be part of the pre-game ceremony.

"The atmosphere was unbelievable," Parr said. "Everybody was out supporting our program and kind of reminding us where this program has come from."

In the opener, the Quakers jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the first inning.

Brandon Smalling got things started with a two-run double, while Eric Elkus finished the rally with a RBI single.

The Engineers eventually responded with a five-run fourth inning and a pair of runs in the sixth to lead 7-3.

The Quakers started the road back in the ninth inning, but could only come up two runs. Devin Spurgon walked with the bases loaded and Cody Krumlauf singled home the last run.

Earlham starter Howie Smith (4-1) left the mound with two outs in the fourth and took the loss.

Drew Lively finished that frame and then worked the fifth and sixth. John Cornett tossed the final three frames and held the Engineers to two hits.

Smalling, Elkus, Krumlauf and Parr led the Quakers with two hits each.

Rose-Hulman started the second contest with a run in the first and another in the third.

The Quakers were scoreless until the eighth inning when Joe Pipher had a run-scoring single to cut the deficit in half.

In the top of the ninth, the Engineers picked up an insurance run to come away with the victory.
Nate Hube (2-3) started for the Quakers and gave way to Garrett York with two outs in the fifth.

Hube gave up two unearned runs on six hits with two strikeouts. York finished the contest giving up a run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Ethan Bailey and Brennan Laird both had hits for the Quakers.