ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University baseball team earned their second split in as many days with Adrian College as the Thunder fell 5-1 in game one and won game two 9-6. The Thunder now stand at 22-17 on the season and 16-10 in MIAA play.
In what began as a pitcher’s duel in the opener, the Bulldogs broke things open in the fifth as they plated all five of their runs.
Trine’s lone run of the game came in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore R.J. Flowers (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) and junior Jeff Phillips (Prospect, Ohio/Marion Pleasant) had a pair of one-out singles. After a walk loaded the bases, Flowers would score on a fielder’s choice off the bat of sophomore Devin Copple (New Albany, Ind./Providence).
Senior Phil Stakely (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) suffered his first loss of the season as he allowed four runs, just one of which was earned. Stakely surrendered four hits while striking out three. Fellow senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on for 2/3 innings of work and gave up an unearned run on a hit and a strikeout. Another senior in Jamar Averyhart (Griffith, Ind./Griffith) pitched the final inning and retired all three batters he faced.
Trine didn’t waste time in game two and they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run single by freshman Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon).
Adrian answered with a run in the second without a hit, after two batters got hit back-to-back before they would score the run on a sacrifice fly.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Thunder answered with another run on a single by freshman Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle).
Again Adrian would answer with a run in the third, but the damage could have been worse for starter, senior Kyle Lidster (Griffith, Ind./Griffith), as he escaped a one-out bases loaded jam.
The scoring began the setting down as neither team plated a run in the fourth. However, the fifth inning was a different story as the two sides combined to score 10 runs in the frame.
Adrian would score four in the top of the fifth on just two hits.
Trine would answer back scoring six runs in the bottom half. The Thunder would get a run on a one-out bases loaded walk to Flowers, followed by a single to center by sophomore Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb). Junior Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) then singled home a run and Kendall reached on an Adrian error to score another run. Phillips would drive in a run on a fielder’s choice and senior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) plated another on a single up the middle to plate the game’s final run.
Lidster took the no decision as he lasted four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and striking out three. Sophomore Jakeb Briscoe (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) earned his third win of the year, pitching an inning of relief work, surrendering two unearned runs on two hits. Cocanower came on for the final two innings to earn his 10th save of the year and striking out two while not allowing a hit.
Trine will finish their regular season as they host Kalamazoo for a doubleheader