Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 OLIVET, Mich. - The Trine
University baseball team took advantage of the sloppy field
conditions as they took their third sweep of the conference season
over Olivet 4-2 and 6-4. The Thunder are now 15-12 on the season
and 11-7 in the MIAA. With the sweep, Trine moves into sole
possession of third place in the conference.
Trine got on the board first in game one as they
plated runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings before the
Comets plated their first runs. In the third, freshman Carter
Stafford (Waterloo, Ind./DeKalb) singled with one out. After
advancing to third on a two-base error on a failed pickoff attempt,
Stafford would score on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by
sophomore Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb).
Sophomore Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo)
would get things in the fourth for the Thunder with a leadoff
double. Two outs later, Baer would score on an RBI single by
sophomore R.J. Flowers (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton).
In the fifth it would be junior Adam Sullivan
(Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst) leading things off with a single.
Sullivan would come around to score after consecutive passed balls
and a throwing error by the Olivet pitcher. One out later,
Prebynski would single and senior Tom Wilder (Petersburg,
Mich./Summerfield) would be hit by a pitch. With two outs,
Prebynski would steal third and then score on a wild pitch.
Olivet would get their only runs of the game in
the bottom of the sixth as they started the inning with four
straight hits.
Senior Kale Popp (Rensselaer, Ind./Kankakee
Valley) picked up his fourth win of the season as he lasted 6 1/3
innings allowing both runs on six hits and striking out a batter.
Fellow senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on to
earn his seventh save of the season as he pitched the final 2/3
innings allowing a hit.
Olivet would jump out to the early lead in game
two as they scored a run in the bottom of the first on a leadoff
walk and a Trine error.
In the fourth, it would be Baer again leading off
the inning with a double. After a sacrifice bunt, Baer would score
on an RBI groundout to the second basemen by Flowers.
The Comets would retake the lead in the bottom of
the inning. After a leadoff single, Olivet scored the run after a
Trine error was followed by a single.
In the top of the fifth Trine would tie the game
again as senior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point)
would lead off the inning with a walk and then was sacrificed over
to second. Zurbriggen would advance to third on a wild pitch and
then score on a groundout by Stafford.
The Thunder would take the lead for good in the
sixth as they plated a pair of runs. With one out, once again it
would be Baer delivering for the Thunder with a double. Junior
Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) would follow with a
single. Flowers would drive in Baer on an RBI groundout. Freshman
Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) then drew a two-out walk.
Then, Shackle would steal second, and as the Comets tried to retire
him, DeGood broke for home and scored.
In the seventh, the Thunder would score what
would be the game-winner. With one out in the inning, Stafford was
hit by a pitch and stole second. Trine would then get back-to-back
singles by Prebynski and Wilder to score a run. Prebynski then
scored on a groundout to the pitcher by Baer.
The Comets would try to make things interesting
in the bottom of the seventh as they got a walk, a bunt single and
another walk to start the inning. Cocanower would induce a 6-4-3
double play ball, but Olivet would plate a run. The Comets would
then get an RBI double to pull within two. Cocanower would retire
the next Olivet batter to end the game and give the Thunder the
sweep.
Senior Phil Stakely (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye
Valley) remained perfect on the year with his fourth win as he went
six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on just three hits
while striking out two. Cocanower came on in the final inning and
allowed a run on two hits.
Six different players had multiple hits on the
afternoon for the Thunder. The trio of Baer, Sullivan and Prebynski
all collected three hits while Flowers, Stafford and Wilder each
had a pair of hits. All three of Baer's hits were doubles.
Flowers was the only Thunder player to have multiple RBIs on the
day as he drove in three. Baer led the team with three runs scored
while Stafford and Prebynski each scored twice.
As a team, Trine stole five bases on the
afternoon.
Trine will get right back out on the diamond as
they travel to Purdue North Central for a doubleheader on April 21
beginning at noon (cst.).