ANGOLA, IND.-- The Trine baseball team's bats broke out to lead the the Thunder to a sweep over Olivet Sunday afternoon at Cutler Athletic Complex.
The Thunder struck early and often to pound out 14 hits in a 15-2 victory in game one, which they followed with a 5-2 victory to earn the sweep in the nightcap. The two wins give Trine a split with Olivet on the weekend series. Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) had a big game one, going 4-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBI's. Zach Thorn (Portage, Ind./Portage) collected three hits and knocked in five runs, while Luke Porter (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) added three hits and three RBI's. Eddie Tomich (Carmel, Ind./Westfield) and Vinny Slobodecki (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) each worked complete games to pick up victories on the mound. Trine improves to 11-16 overall, 6-10 in the MIAA.
Game One: Trine 15, Olivet 2
The Trine bats came out hot as the Thunder took the lead early and never looked back in the big victory.
A three-run first got TU on track. Singles by Jeff Phillips (Prospect, Ohio/Marion Pleasant), Baer and Thorn loaded the bases with one out. Porter singled to center to bring home two to get Trine on the board. Thorn later came in to score on a double-steal.
The Comets responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning on a Peter Panos RBI-single and a fielder's choice. That was all Olivet would get however, as Tomich shut-down the Comets the rest of the way. Trine's workhorse starting pitcher worked the complete game, scattering seven hits and the two first-inning earned runs to improve to 3-3.
The Thunder loaded the bases again in the top of the second before Baer launched a grand slam to right field to break the game wide open. The homer was Baer's second of the season. He later added an RBI-single in the fourth.
Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst) came in to score on a wild pitch in the top of the third to make the score 8-2.
The floodgates really opened up in a seven-run fourth. Thorn, Porter, Sullivan, Baer and Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) each had RBI-hits, while Phillips drew a bases-loaded walk to score another run.
Game Two: Trine 5, Olivet 1
A couple early runs proved more than enough for Slobodecki, and the Thunder tacked on insurance runs in the late innings to seal the victory.
Once again, the Thunder wasted no time getting on the board. Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Phillips. After an intentional walk to Baer, Thorn cleared the bases with a two-run double to give Trine an early lead.
That would prove to be more than enough for Slobodecki, who tossed his second-consecutive complete game. The freshman scattered six hits, allowed one earned run, did not walk a batter and struck out two. In his last two starts, Slobodecki has allowed two earned runs on eight hits in 14 innings pitched.
Trine added two in the top of the fifth. Kyle Auernhamer (Vassar, Mich./Vassar) scored on an error and Thorn added a sacrifice fly. An RBI-single by Sullivan in the top of the sixth capped off the scoring for the Thunder.
Olivet pushed across their run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI-double by Drew Thompson.
Trine will open a series with MIAA-leader Adrian Friday, Apr. 18. Friday's doubleheader will be played at Adrian, with Saturday's return games being hosted by Trine.