Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine
University baseball team competed with some rainy weather as well
as with the Calvin Knights, battling back from a game one loss to
rally and win game two. The Thunder dropped the first game 9-7,
while winning the second with a score of 1-0 in a stellar pitching
duel.
Game one started off promising for the Thunder,
as in the bottom of the first inning they scored a run when senior
Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk) started the
bottom of the inning off with a walk. Rivera was then moved to
second on a sacrifice bunt by fellow senior Nick Beitler
(Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak), and would be hit in from an
RBI single from yet another senior, Ryan Smith (Coldwater,
Mich./Coldwater).
Calvin would answer back in the top of the third
inning, starting with a two out single. A double would advance the
runner to third, and then score on a wild pitch. Another two out
double would score the runner on third.
In the top of the fourth Calvin would open the
game wide open scoring four runs, on five hits with some help from
an error by the Thunder defense. They would add two more runs in
the top of the fifth off of two hits.
The Thunder bats would answer back in the bottom
of the fifth adding two runs of their own. Freshman Ethan Prebynski
(Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) would start things off with
a single through the right side and would move to second as on a
walk to Rivera. Beitler would reach on an error by the catcher on
an attempted sacrifice. With bases loaded Smith hit a sacrifice fly
to centerfielder scoring Prebynski. Senior Brandon Nothnagel
(St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) would reach
on a fielder's choice allowing Rivera to score.
The bottom of the sixth would prove to be another
big inning for the Thunder as they put up four runs to come within
one of Calvin's lead. Senior Craig Rinkes (Medina,
Ohio/Medina) opened things up with a single to left
center. Prebynski would reach on an error by the shortstop. Rivera
would hit an RBI single to score Rinkes. A pinch hit single from
freshman Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) would
score Prebynski. A walk to Smith would load the
bases, and junior Steve Cornett (Bremen,
Ind./Bremen) would single up the middle to score both
Rivera and sophomore Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne,
Ind./Elmhurst), who was put in to pinch run for Baer.
That is as close as the Thunder would get
however, as Calvin tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh
to cement the 9-7 victory.
The Thunder would use five pitchers in the
contest. Senior Mike Sentman (Batavia,
Ill./Batavia) took the loss going 3 and 2/3 innings,
giving up 10 hits, six runs and two walks while earning two
strikeouts. Fellow senior
Chas Amadeo (Syracuse,
Ind./Wawasee) had an inning of work giving up a hit and
two runs. Junior Phil Stakely (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye
Valley) faced two batters giving up one hit. Kyle
Lidster (Griffith, Ind./Griffith), a
sophomore, would go 1 and 2/3 innings giving up a run
and a hit, with one strikeout. Senior Phil Cappelletty
(Tipton, Mich./Adrian) would finish off the game
for the Thunder facing two batters while giving up a hit and a
walk.
Rivera (2-3), Smith (1-1), and Cornett (2-4) led
the thunder offense as Rivera drove in a run, and both Smith and
Cornett added two RBI. Rinkes would also add two hits of his
own.
Game two ended up being a great pitchers dual,
with the only run coming from the Thunder in the bottom of the
sixth inning. Sophomore Ben Witter (Naples, Fla./Golden
Gate) had a one out single to center, and was pinch run
for by freshman Jeff Phillips (Prospect, Ohio/Marion
Pleasant). An error by the second baseman would allow Smith
to reach base safely and would advance Phillips around to third.
Phillips would be thrown out at home on a fielder's choice,
which would allow freshman Braxton Siddons (Churubusco,
Ind./Churubusco) to reach base, and moving Smith to
second. Smith would then score on a double from junior Zach
Ebersole (Eldorado, Ohio/National Trail).
Junior Kale Popp (Rennsselaer,
Ind./Kankakee Valley) would get his third win of the
season, as he pitched a scoreless 6 innings and giving up just two
hits and two walks, while striking out three. Sophomore Jeremy
Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central
Catholic) would come on to get the save, pitching one
inning, allowing no hits while giving up a walk striking out a
batter.
Smith (1-3) would again lead the offense coming
up with the only run of the game. Witter and Ebersole would add
Trine's only other hits.
The Thunder will be back in action March 26 with
another doubleheader against Calvin, as they travel to Grand Rapids
for a 2:00 p.m. start.