ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University baseball team competed with some rainy weather as well as with the Calvin Knights, battling back from a game one loss to rally and win game two. The Thunder dropped the first game 9-7, while winning the second with a score of 1-0 in a stellar pitching duel.
Game one started off promising for the Thunder, as in the bottom of the first inning they scored a run when senior Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk) started the bottom of the inning off with a walk. Rivera was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by fellow senior Nick Beitler (Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak), and would be hit in from an RBI single from yet another senior, Ryan Smith (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater).
Calvin would answer back in the top of the third inning, starting with a two out single. A double would advance the runner to third, and then score on a wild pitch. Another two out double would score the runner on third.
In the top of the fourth Calvin would open the game wide open scoring four runs, on five hits with some help from an error by the Thunder defense. They would add two more runs in the top of the fifth off of two hits.
The Thunder bats would answer back in the bottom of the fifth adding two runs of their own. Freshman Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) would start things off with a single through the right side and would move to second as on a walk to Rivera. Beitler would reach on an error by the catcher on an attempted sacrifice. With bases loaded Smith hit a sacrifice fly to centerfielder scoring Prebynski. Senior Brandon Nothnagel (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) would reach on a fielder’s choice allowing Rivera to score.
The bottom of the sixth would prove to be another big inning for the Thunder as they put up four runs to come within one of Calvin’s lead. Senior Craig Rinkes (Medina, Ohio/Medina) opened things up with a single to left center. Prebynski would reach on an error by the shortstop. Rivera would hit an RBI single to score Rinkes. A pinch hit single from freshman Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) would score Prebynski. A walk to Smith would load the bases, and junior Steve Cornett (Bremen, Ind./Bremen) would single up the middle to score both Rivera and sophomore Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst), who was put in to pinch run for Baer.
That is as close as the Thunder would get however, as Calvin tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh to cement the 9-7 victory.
The Thunder would use five pitchers in the contest. Senior Mike Sentman (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) took the loss going 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits, six runs and two walks while earning two strikeouts. Fellow senior Chas Amadeo (Syracuse, Ind./Wawasee) had an inning of work giving up a hit and two runs. Junior Phil Stakely (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) faced two batters giving up one hit. Kyle Lidster (Griffith, Ind./Griffith), a sophomore, would go 1 and 2/3 innings giving up a run and a hit, with one strikeout. Senior Phil Cappelletty (Tipton, Mich./Adrian) would finish off the game for the Thunder facing two batters while giving up a hit and a walk.
Rivera (2-3), Smith (1-1), and Cornett (2-4) led the thunder offense as Rivera drove in a run, and both Smith and Cornett added two RBI. Rinkes would also add two hits of his own.
Game two ended up being a great pitchers dual, with the only run coming from the Thunder in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sophomore Ben Witter (Naples, Fla./Golden Gate) had a one out single to center, and was pinch run for by freshman Jeff Phillips (Prospect, Ohio/Marion Pleasant). An error by the second baseman would allow Smith to reach base safely and would advance Phillips around to third. Phillips would be thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, which would allow freshman Braxton Siddons (Churubusco, Ind./Churubusco) to reach base, and moving Smith to second. Smith would then score on a double from junior Zach Ebersole (Eldorado, Ohio/National Trail).
Junior Kale Popp (Rennsselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley) would get his third win of the season, as he pitched a scoreless 6 innings and giving up just two hits and two walks, while striking out three. Sophomore Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) would come on to get the save, pitching one inning, allowing no hits while giving up a walk striking out a batter.
Smith (1-3) would again lead the offense coming up with the only run of the game. Witter and Ebersole would add Trine’s only other hits.
The Thunder will be back in action March 26 with another doubleheader against Calvin, as they travel to Grand Rapids for a 2:00 p.m. start.