GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - For the second time, the Trine University baseball team earned a series split with MIAA rival Calvin, falling 3-2 and then shutting out the Knights 2-0. The split moved the Thunder to 8-8 on the season and 4-4 in MIAA play.
In game one, after falling behind the Thunder made things interesting as they made a comeback in the sixth as they tied the game.
The Thunder fell behind early as the Knights plated a run in the bottom of the first after back-to-back singles to start the inning. Calvin would later plate the run on a groundout.
Calvin would tack on a run in the fifth after another leadoff single, then two outs later a double.
Trine would get on the board in the sixth after sophomore Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) reached on a leadoff walk and junior Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst) followed with a single to center. Two outs later, it would be sophomore Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) driving in Sullivan and freshman Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) on a single to center.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Knights would answer in the bottom half of the inning for the game-winner. After a one out single, Calvin would plate the winning run on a Trine error.
Senior Kale Popp (Rensselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley) lasted 5 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three. Senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on for the final 1/3 of an inning and retired the only batter he faced.
The Thunder wouldn’t waste any time getting started in game two as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by senior Tom Wilder (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) that scored Prebynski from second.
Trine would score an insurance run in the fifth as freshman Carter Stafford (Waterloo, Ind./DeKalb) led off the inning with a single to right center. After a sacrifice bunt advanced him to second and a groundout moved him to third, Stafford would score on an error by the Calvin shortstop.
Calvin would threaten in the bottom of the seventh as the leadoff batter reached. After a walk and a Trine error, senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) retired the final two batters to escape the jam and earn his fourth save of the year.
Senior pitcher Jake Rightnowar (Oregon, Ohio/Toledo Christian) earned his first win of the season on the mound throwing six shutout innings and allowing just four hits while striking out five. Cocanower recorded the final three outs of the game to extend his scoreless streak to 11 innings.
Stafford was the only Trine player to collect multiple hits on the day, going 3-for-7 with a run scored. Wilder and senior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) each had doubles for their only hits.
Trine will get right back to action as they host Defiance for a single 9-inning game on April 3 beginning at 4:00 p.m.