ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University baseball team fell 12-5 to Manchester University in its home opener on Saturday afternoon. Kai Jones led the Thunder (4-9) with two hits and two RBIs in the loss. Manchester improves to 4-7 with the win.
 
The Spartans wasted no time in the first inning, notching three hits in their first four at bats on their way to five first inning runs. Luke Burford scored from third during a run down play at second base to get Trine on the board. The Spartans added the next six runs to put Trine on the brink of a run-rule loss. Jones staved off the early ending with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.
 
The Thunder bats came alive in the eighth with three runs and three hits. Jones knocked in his second run with a single and Brody Bond drove in another in the next at bat. Jones scored on the next at bat after a pitching change to cut the lead to 11-5. The Spartans ended the comeback attempt in the ninth and took the win.
 
After the game, the home dugout was dedicated in honor of longtime Thunder Baseball Coach Greg Pershke for 23 seasons of dedication to the Trine Baseball program.
 
The Thunder will be back in action tomorrow at noon with the first game of a doubleheader against the Spartans.