ANGOLA, Ind. - It was the perfect ending to a great day for the Trine University baseball team as junior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) hit a game-ending single in the bottom of the seventh of game two to give the Thunder a sweep of Olivet College. Trine took game one 5-2 before rallying in game two to take it 4-3. The Thunder move to 16-14 on the season and move into second place in the MIAA with a 10-8 record.
After the Comets scored in the first inning of game one, the Thunder would roar back in the bottom of the inning to score all the runs they would need. Trine batted around in the inning, scoring five runs on six hits.
At one point, Trine batters reached base in six straight at bats. Seniors Ryan Smith (Danville, Ind./Danville), Craig Rinkes (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and Brian Hoeper (Angola, Ind./Angola) all collected run scoring hits as freshman Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.
Olivet would get a run back in the fifth with two outs.
The Comets would then load the bases in the seventh, but sophomore Jeremy Spaulding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) would come on to record the final out of the game for his conference-leading sixth save.
Junior Kale Popp (Rensselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley) made the start for the Thunder, earning the win while going five innings, allowing seven hits, one earned run and striking out two. Junior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) and freshman Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) combined to pitch 1 2/3 innings of relief, as each struck out and walked a batter.
For the game, Smith, Hoeper and junior Tom Wilder (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) each collected two hits.
Olivet would start game two in the same fashion as they picked up a run in the top of the first as they would maintain their lead until late in the game.
The Comets added a run in the third as Trine was able to cut the lead in half on a one-out single to center by senior Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk) that scored Rinkes who had reached base on a walk.
The two teams would again trade runs in the fifth as Olivet took advantage of a Trine error. The Thunder would get three hits in the inning, but after a runner was picked off, Trine was only able to score one run in the inning which came on a single up the middle by Zurbriggen.
The Thunder would then tie it an inning later as Tom Wilder reached second on an Olivet error. Senior Brandon Nothnagel (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) would come through for Trine as he delivered a single up the middle to score Wilder from third.
In the seventh, Prebynski led off the inning with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt by Rivera would then move him the second. Zurbriggen would then step in for the Thunder and after stretching the count full, he took a 3-2 curveball back up the middle to score Prebynski for the game-winner.
Junior Jake Rightnowar (Oregon, Ohio/Toledo Christian) got the no decision after going 4 1/3 innings, scattering eight hits while allowed three runs (two earned) and striking out two. Senior Chas Amadeo (Syracuse, Ind./Wawasee) pitched an inning of relief, allowing one runner to reach base by a walk while earning a strikeout. Junior Phil Stakely (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) earned his first win of the season after pitching 1 2/3 innings of relief on the mound, not allowing a runner to reach base.
Prebynski had an outstanding game at the plate going 3-3 with two runs scored. River and Zurbriggen each collected two hits while Zurbriggen also knocked in two runs.
Trine will look to sweep the Comets again as they travel to Olivet on April 22 for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.