by Sports Information Student Assistant Caitlin Reynolds
ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University baseball team came back from a six run deficit to win game one with a score of 7-6 on visiting Albion College, and put on an offensive explosion in game two, winning 11-1. The sweep for the Thunder improves their record to 10-9 on the season and 4-4 in the MIAA and avenges a sweep by the Britons in their previous series.
It was all Albion for the first five innings of game one as they would put up three runs in the top of the second, and two runs in the top of the third.
Trine would not get a run across until the bottom of the sixth, when they would get their offense rolling with six runs. It started with a bunt single from freshman Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb), who would advance to second on a groundout to short by junior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point). With two outs, senior Ryan Smith (Danville, Ind./Danville) would double to bring in Prebynski. Smith would score on a single by junior Steve Cornett (Bremen, Ind./Bremen).
After a failed pickoff attempt by Albion allowed Cornett to advance on the error, Tom Wilder would walk to give the Thunder runners on first and second. Three consecutive RBI singles by a trio of seniors in Craig Rinkes (Medina, Ohio/Medina), Kyle Kleiman (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) and Brian Hoeper (Angola, Ind./Angola) gave the Thunder a 6-5 lead.
Albion would answer back in the top of the seventh pushing one run across to tie the game.
Trine would stay strong in the bottom of the seventh and come up with the win.
Senior Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk) would get things started, leading off the inning with a single to right center. After another sacrifice bunt by Zurbriggen, Smith would be intentionally walked bringing Cornett to the plate. The junior would come up clutch for the Thunder, delivering the game-winning single to score Rivera from second.
On the mound sophomore Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) would earn the win, improving his record to 2-0, pitching the final inning and giving up a hit and a run. Junior Jake Rightnowar (Oregon, Ohio/Toledo Christian) started for the Thunder, lasting four innings, giving up eight hits and five earned runs. Fellow junior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on, pitching two innings of relief work allowing just one hit and racking up two strikeouts.
Offensively, Cornett led the way going 2-4 with two RBIs. Smith and Prebynski would add two hits of their own as Smith also drove in two.
In game two, the Thunder bats stayed hot, as they coupled that with an excellent pitching outing by freshman Braxton Siddons (Churubusco, Ind./Churubusco).
Albion would score their only run of the game in the top of the first inning after three consecutive one-out singles.
From there, the Trine offense would take over and ran away with things starting in the bottom of the third with a leadoff single from Cornett. After advancing to second on a groundout, Cornett would come around to score on a single from Rinkes.
Trine would then put up a three spot in the bottom of the fourth as Prebynski started a big rally again with a leadoff double. Rivera would hit him in with a single. Rivers would then steal second and advance to third on a groundout. From there, a double by Smith would score Rivera.
Smith would steal second and then score on a single from junior Zach Ebersole (Eldorado, Ohio/National Trail).
Trine add on a run in the bottom of the fifth as Rivera singled, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the catcher. This time it would be a groundout by Zurbriggen that would bring in the run.
Another three runs in the sixth would round out the Thunder scoring.
With one out, Ebersole would hit a solo home run, the first of his career. Rinkes was hit by pitch, and an infield single by Adam Sullivan would put two runners on. A walk to Hoeper would load the bases. Another walk, this time to Prebynski would push a runner across. A groundout by Rivera would bring home the final run of the game scoring Sullivan from third.
Siddons would get his first collegiate victory going 6 and 2/3 innings while scattering six hits and just one earned run. Fellow freshman Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) would come on to record the final out of the game, striking out the only batter he faced.
Offensively it truly was a team effort as four different Thunder hitters (Sullivan, Zurbriggen, River, Ebersole) recorded with two hits. Ebersole (2-3) led the way with a game-high three RBIs while Rivera and Sullivan would add two RBIs of their own.
The Thunder will next take the field at home for a non-conference game against Siena Heights on April 3 starting at 4 p.m.