MISHAWAKA, Ind.-- The Trine baseball team was defeated by NAIA opponent Bethel (Ind.) 2-1  in non-conference action Tuesday afternoon.

Pitching was the story for both sides as the two teams combined for just 11 hits. Four Thunder pitchers combined to allow five hits, while the Pilots' five pitcher combined to scatter six hits and strike out eight. Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Prairie Heights) drove in the lone Trine run. A two-run single by Jesse Zepeda accounted for Bethel's scoring. Trine fell to 15-12 overall. Bethel improved to 12-19 on the season.

The lone scoring inning for the Pilots came in the bottom of the fourth. Eric Kelver singled and advanced to third on Morgan Erla's double. Zapata's two-run single accounted for Bethel's only runs on the day.

A leadoff single by Zachary Schulte (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Warren Cousino) set up the lone Thunder run in the sixth. Heller followed with a double to deep center to score the run and cut the score to 2-1. Trine was unable to muster another rally to tie against the Pilots' bullpen.

Caleb Keehner was credited with the victory in relief for Bethel. He worked two scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out two.

Christian Jones (Poseyville, Ind. / North Posey) stretched out a bit for Trine to throw 3.2 innings. He allowed two earned on four hits and was tagged with the loss. Jacob Stauffer (Elkhart, Ind. / Concord), Shaun Seigneur (Grove City, Ohio / Central Crossing) and Alec Patterson (West Milford, Ohio / Troy Christian) combined to toss 4.1 innings of one-hit relief.

Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio / Indian Hill) extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Thunder. Chase Mahoy (Darlington, Ind. / North Montgomery) added his first varsity hit.

Trine opens a MIAA-series with Hope this Friday, Apr. 22 at Hope College. The Thunder enter the series in second place in the conference. The Dutch are in third place, one game back of Trine in the standings.