ANGOLA, Ind. - It was a day of high’s and low’s for the Trine University baseball team as they dropped game one of their doubleheader 9-3 to Hope College before rallying in game two for a 3-1 victory. The split moves the Thunder to 13-13 on the season and 7-7 in the MIAA.
Trine opened the scoring in the first game as senior Ryan Smith (Danville, Ind./Danville) belted his second home run of the season in the bottom of the first to give the Thunder the early lead. From there though, Hope would score in droves.
The Flying Dutchmen would score five runs in the top of the second inning as the first four batters of the inning reached on hits.
Trine would threaten in the third inning as they loaded the bases in no outs. Senior Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk) would drive in a run on a single up the middle to score senior Craig Rinkes (Medina, Ohio/Medina) from second. Junior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) would be hit by a pitch to load the bases for all-conference player Smith. Trine would run into a bit of bad luck as Smith hit a rope, but it was right at the Hope shortstop, who ran to second to get the second out and then throw on the first to retire the Trine runner who had taken off on the hit for a triple play.
After the Thunder escaped trouble in the top of the fourth, they would threaten once again in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back singles by senior Brian Hoeper (Angola, Ind./Angola) and freshman Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) would put runners on the corners for junior Zach Ebersole (Eldorado, Ohio/National Trail). Trine would run into more back luck as Ebersole hit a rocket back up the middle but the Hope pitcher was able to snare the line drive and double off the runner at first as the Thunder were unable to push across a run.
The double play bug struck again in the fifth as Rivera and Zurbriggen hit back-to-back one-out singles bringing Smith to the plate. It would be tough luck again for Smith as he grounded into the inning ending 1-6-3 double play.
Hope would extend their lead in the sixth as they scored four more runs, three of which came on a home run.
Trine would get a run back in the bottom of the inning on a single by Ebersole and a Hope throwing error. Ebersole would then score from third on a single to center by Rinkes.
Despite tallying 11 hits in game one, the Thunder were unable to keep pace with Hope as Trine left eight runners on base.
Rivera led Trine at the plate going 3-4 with an RBI. Rinkes was the only other Trine play with multiple hits as he went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. In all, eight starters collected hits in the game.
On the mound, senior Mike Sentman (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) suffered the loss pitching 5 1/3 innings allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits while collecting two strikeouts. Sophomore Kyle Lidster (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) came on in relief, allowed three hits and two earned runs while not recording an out. Senior Chas Amadeo (Syracuse, Ind./Wawasee) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings not allowing a base runner to reach.
Game number two started off better for the Thunder as they scored twice in the bottom of the second as that would be all they would need behind the stellar pitching performance of junior Kale Popp (Rensselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley).
Freshman Braxton Siddons (Churubusco, Ind./Churubusco) led off the inning with a walk and then moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by Rinkes. Junior Tom Wilder (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) would single to left center scoring Siddons from second. Then with one out, Hoeper would reach on an infield single before a throwing error by the Hope third baseman would send Hoeper around to third, allowing Wilder to score all the way from first.
Trine would add a run in the third as Rivera led off the inning with a triple to center. Smith would deliver a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Rivera.
Hope would plate a run in the top of the seventh with two outs on back-to-back walks followed by a single.
Hoeper led Trine at the plate in game two going a perfect 2-2. Wilder and Smith recorded the Thunder’s only RBIs of the game.
Popp earned his fourth win of the season after throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering four hits while striking out two and walking one. Baer came on to pitch 1 1/3, giving up one earned run while not allowing a hit and striking out three while walking one. Sophomore Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) came on to record the final out of the game to earn his fourth save of the season despite allowing a hit and a run.
The two teams will go right back at it as Trine will travel to Hope on April 13 for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader.