DANVILLE, Ky. – The Trine University baseball team closed out it's season opening series on Saturday with a pair of losses to 17^th-ranked Centre College. The Thunder (0-3) fell in both games of Saturday's double header to the Colonels (5-1) by scores of 7-4 and 10-0. Sam Beckham had three hits on the day for Trine.
 
Luke Burford gave Trine life in the first game with a two-run homer to left field in the fifth inning to put Trine in striking distance of Centre's 3-0 lead. Centre answered back with four runs in the next two innings to pull away to a 7-2 lead. Beckham got two runs into scoring position for Trine in the sixth inning; a single to third advanced Nathan Gilmet to third base before Beckham stole second. Trine left the runners stranded. Cole Temple sent a solo shot over the left field fence in the eighth and Cole Schmidthuber scored Luke Metzler on a sac fly to provide the final runs for the Thunder.
 
The #17 Colonels showed their national prowess in the second game with a 10-0 shutout. The Colonels starter went four innings and allowed one hit to Justin Hamberg while striking out six. Centre added four runs of support to his work before pulling away late for the win. Four other Thunder recorded hits in the loss.
 
The Thunder will head further south next week for the team's annual spring break trip to Florida. Trine will play nine games in seven days. Starting with a single game against Chatham University on February 28.