ALBION, Mich. - It was a tough day for the Trine University baseball team as they drop a pair of games to conference foe Albion 8-2 and 5-4. The losses drop the Thunder to 5-7 on the season and 1-3 in the MIAA.
In the opener, the Thunder fell behind early as they were unable to make a rally. The Britons would score a run in the third, four in the fourth and three more in the sixth.
The Thunder’s lone runs of the game would come in the sixth. After back-to-back Albion errors started the inning, and a passed ball moved both runners up, senior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) would score on an RBI ground out by sophomore Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo). Junior Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) would follow with an RBI single to right center to score sophomore R.J. Flower (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton).
Trine was able to get two runners on in the seventh, but were unable to plate a run with two outs.
Sophomore Edward Tomich (Carmel, Ind./Westfield) took the loss for the Thunder on the mound, lasting five innings, allowing seven runs, six of which were earned on 10 hits. Sophomore C.J. Burnett (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County) made his first appearance of the season as he came on to pitch two thirds of an inning and allowed one unearned run on a hit. Senior Jamar Averyhart (Griffith, Ind./Griffith) came on to record the final out of the sixth inning.
Trine nearly pulled off the comeback in game number two after again falling behind 5-0 early on.
Albion again jumped out into the lead as they scored two runs in the third inning, all of which were unearned. In the fifth, the Britons extended their lead plating three runs, all of which were again unearned.
The Thunder bats would again come alive in the sixth. Zurbriggen and senior Tom Wilder (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) would lead off the inning with back-to-back singles. Then with one out, DeGood would deliver again with an RBI single. Sophomore Devin Copple (New Albany, Ind./Providence) followed with another single to load the bases. Freshman Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) would then come through with a single to score DeGood and freshman Carter Stafford (Waterloo, Ind./DeKalb). Copple would then score on a wild pitch. That would be the end of the rally for the Thunder as the next two batters were retired.
Trine would go down in order in the top of the seventh as sophomore Jakeb Briscoe (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) took the loss. Briscoe lasted four and one third of an inning while allowing all five runs, all of which were unearned, on four hits while striking out three. Junior Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) made his first appearance of the season, going two thirds of an inning and allowing one hit. Senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on to pitch the final inning and struck out a batter while not allowing a runner to reach base.
DeGood led the Thunder at the plate going 3-for-6 on the day with two RBI and scoring a run. Kendall also drove in two runs on the day. Wilder collected three hits on the day in seven at-bats and stole a base. Stafford was the only other Trine player to collect multiple hits on the day going 2-for-6 while also stealing a bag.
The two teams will go right back at it March 30 as Trine will play host for their doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.