Early errors and a missed opportunity late lead to a two-run loss on senior night Thursday in Adel, as the visiting Van Meter Bulldogs beat ADM, 7-5.

The Bulldogs (23-9) took advantage of three ADM errors in the second inning, when they batted around and scored five runs on just three hits to take a 5-1 lead.

ADM (9-19) then missed a golden opportunity to tie the game as ADM/Van Meter boys soccer player Drew Gordon came on to record a five-out save.

Trailing 7-5 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers got the leadoff runner on when Jack O’Brien reached second on an error and moved to third on Sam McCartney’s infield single.With Jake Sloss at bat, O’Brien was tagged out at home on a bang-bang play trying to score on a wild pitch. After Sloss walked, Gordon came on and struck out Joe Sloss and Colin Gavin with runners on second and third to preserve the two-run lead.

Both Sloss brothers put together good offensive showings, Joe going 3-for-4 with a double, run and two RBI, and Jake finishing 2-for-2 with two runs and a stolen base.

ADM crawled to within two runs on two separate occasions. In the second, Joe Sloss’ RBI single scored courtesy runner Kade Overton and Colin Gavin doubled home Jake Sloss, while Joe Sloss was thrown out at home trying to score from first, making it 5-3 Van Meter.

The Bulldogs then pushed across two runs in the third on Sam Thompson’s RBI triple and Thompson scoring on a passed ball. After Cade Niblo reached first on a dropped third strike, Chase Eddie replaced starter Ethan Herron to record the final out of the inning.

Herron (1-6) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.  Eddie kept the Tigers in it with 4 1/3 dominant no-hit innings, striking out four and walking one.

ADM again cut the deficit to two runs with two out in the fourth on a Niblo balk and Joe Sloss’ double.

The Tigers conclude conference play at 7:30 p.m. Friday night against Carlisle.