ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University fell 16-8 to The University of Olivet on Sunday afternoon at Jannen Field. The Thunder (8-22, 4-7 MIAA) opened up an 8-0 lead in the first two innings before the Comets (13-13, 5-6 MIAA) rallied with the next 16 runs to take the win.
Cole Schmidthuber and
Cole Clements led the offense with two hits, Clements drove in four runs.
Trine took advantage of some early pitching woes from the Comets. The Thunder did not earn a hit on the starter but earned five free bases in the first two at bats to score the first run.
Luke Burford reached on a walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a failed pick off attempt. He and
William Taczak earned free bases simultaneously on a ball four wild pitch, Burford scored on the mishap.
Spencer Rodriguez reached on a walk before the Comets made a pitching change.
The change worked in the Thunder's favor as the hosts piled on five runs on three hits.
Nathan Gilmet reached on an error that allowed Taczak to score. A bases loaded walk plated Rodriguez and Clements drove in two with a single to right field.
Justin Hamberg completed the scoring with a single up the middle. Clements added two more in the second with a 2 RBI double to give Trine an 8-0 lead.
The play prompted another pitching change from the Comets, the second reliever Emilio Garcia Jr., allowed just two hits over the next 7.1 innings to stall the Thunder offense. Olivet scored 16 unanswered runs to take the win.
The Thunder host the Comets again on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
