AUBURNDALE, Fl. – The Trine University baseball team collected a run-rule victory on Wednesday afternoon 16-6 over Vassar College. The Thunder (3-5) pounded out 16 runs on 19 hits, the most of either in a game since March 2, 2020 and held the Brewers (1-4) to one run over the final five innings of play.

The bottom of the first started with a lead-off homerun by Vassar and a two-out RBI single to give the Brewers a two-run advantage after one. Vassar added on in the second by plating three more runs, two of which unearned to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

The Thunder would get it all back and then some by sending 11 to the dish in the third. Dalton Nikirk [Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence] drove in a run after following Tyler Robinson [Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg] and Avery Fulford [Conifer, Colo. / Conifer] with singles. Easton Rhodes [Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb] delivered with a two-RBI double after that to make it 5-3.

A double by Brenden Warner [Richland, Mich. / Hackett Catholic Prep] and Jack Kletzly [Lebanon, Ohio / Lebanon] hit by pitch loaded the bases. A wild pitch allowed one run to score and Adam Stefanelli [Westerville, Ohio / Westerville North] tied the game up at 5 with a single, the seventh straight Trine hitter to reach. Matt Weis [Trenton, Ill. / Triad] lifted a fly ball to right field that scored the go-ahead run.

The 6-5 lead would not suffice for Trine and in the fourth, Fulford led off the inning with a double and Rhodes singled to right to provide insurance. The Brewers answered that with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 7-6. Robert Kortas [New Baltimore, Mich. / Anchor Bay] got the third out in the inning with the tying run left on third.

Vassar was able to cut down a run at home in the fifth to keep the deficit within reach, but were unable to develop a run from a leadoff walk in the bottom half.

The duo of Fulford and Rhodes repeated their performance from the fourth in the sixth to spark a four-run inning. Cory Erbskorn [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] smacked a double to right field and Weis singled to drive in his second and third runs of the day to give Trine an 11-6 edge.

Patience at the plate created havoc for the Brewers' pitching staff as Fulford, Nikirk, Rhodes and Warner all drew walks to start the seventh. Matthew Martin [Eureka, Ill. / Eureka] wrapped up the inning with a two-run single to right.

Jeff Ballard [Munster, Ind. / Munster] was able to wrap up the game early with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. In total, he went two innings of hitless baseball out of the bullpen. Kortas was credited with the win after 3.2 innings pitched and a team-high six strikeouts.

All 10 hitters in the Trine lineup recorded hits, including three each by Fulford, Rhodes, Stefanelli and Martin. Rhodes drove in four runs and Fulford scored four times and had two extra base hits.

The spring break trip in Florida continues tomorrow, March 10 with a game against Fontbonne University. First pitch is set for 11:30 am.