ANGOLA, Ind. - After falling behind early, the Trine University baseball team’s comeback fell just short as they dropped a non-conference contest to Defiance 5-4. The loss drops the Thunder to 8-9 on the season.
Defiance opened the game scoring twice in the top of the first off a leadoff walk followed by a one-out double and a Trine error. The Yellow Jackets would add another run on a single.
Trine would tie the game in the bottom of the second as junior Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) would lead off the inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore Devin Copple (New Albany, Ind./Providence) would follow with a single and advance to second the throw to third. Freshman Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) would then score DeGood from third on an RBI groundout. Junior Jeff Phillips (Prospect, Ohio/Marion Pleasant) then drove in Copple on an infield single to the shortstop.
Defiance would add runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as they led 5-2.
Trine would begin to cut into the Defiance lead in the seventh as they plated a run. With two outs, junior Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst) would reach on a walk. After stealing second, Sullivan would score on a double by freshman Carter Stafford (Waterloo, Ind./DeKalb) to left field. The Thunder would get another hit to put runners on the corners, but they would be unable to plate another run.
In the eighth, the Thunder got a run back as DeGood led off the inning with a double down the left field line. DeGood would then score on an error by the Defiance second baseman.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Thunder got a runner on as Stafford walked with one out, but the next two Trine batters would be retired to end the game.
Sophomore Edward Tomich (Carmel, Ind./Westfield) lasted six innings on the mound for the Thunder allowing all five runs (three earned) on 11 hits while striking out one. Junior Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) came on for two innings of relief and striking out a batter while surrendering two hits. Senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) would record the final three outs, striking out one and not allowing a batter to reach as she extended his scoreless streak to 12 innings.
Four different players collected multiple hits on the afternoon for the Thunder led by Copple who went 2-for-2. Stafford, DeGood and sophomore Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) each also collected a pair of hits in the game. DeGood was the only Trine player to also score twice.
Trine will return to action on April 6 when they host Alma for a pair of conference games beginning at 1:00 p.m.