KALAMAZOO, MICH.-- The Trine baseball team closed out their 2014 campaign with a split against Kalamazoo in MIAA-action Sunday afternoon at Woodworth Field.
The Hornets clinched a berth in the MIAA Tournament with a 13-2 victory in game one and built an early 4-0 lead in game two, but the Thunder fought their way back for a 5-4 victory to earn the split. Senior Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) picked up the game two victory in his final start. Fellow seniors Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) and Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst) each picked up RBI's to help the Thunder earn the victory. Ian Kobernick had three hits and three RBI's to lead the way for the Hornets. Trine concludes the season 14-26 overall and 9-19 in MIAA play. Kalamazoo enters the MIAA-Tournament 17-23 overall and 15-13 in the league.
Game One: Kalamazoo 13, Trine 2
The Hornets got big contributions from the top of their lineup to punch their ticket to the MIAA Tournament.
The top six hitters in Kalamazoo's lineup combined for 15 hits and 10 RBI's. Kobernick led the way with three hits and three RBI's, while Carter Chandler and Scott Devine each picked up two hits and knocked in three. Marc Zughaib also had three hits for the Hornets.
Ben Pritchett (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) picked up a pair of hits in his first action of the season for Trine. Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) added a pair of hits and an RBI.
Adam McDowell picked up the win for Kalamazoo, giving up an earned run six hits, walking two and striking out three.
Game Two: Trine 5, Kalamazoo 4
After spotting the Hornets a four-run lead after the first inning, the Thunder chipped away to complete the comeback and end the season on a high note.
The Hornets scored got an unearned run and scored two more on a double-play. An RBI-single by John Jackoviak capped the big first-inning and made the score 1-0.
The Thunder began their comeback in the top of the second inning. Mike Seaman (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota West) led off with a single before the senior DeGood came up with a huge triple to score Seaman and get the Thunder on the board. An RBI-groundout by Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) cut the score to 4-2.
An infield RBI-single by Sullivan in the top of the fifth cut the score to 4-3.
A leadoff triple by Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) got Trine in business in the sixth. Luke Porter (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) followed with an RBI-single to tie the score.
Trine had to manufacture their final run in the seventh to complete the comeback. Prebynski led off with a single and moved to second on a pinch-hit sac bunt by Shackle. A single up the middle by Sullivan put runners at the corners with one out. Sullivan took off and stole second, and the resulting throwing error brought Prebynski home with the winning run.
Spalding was solid in 6.1 innings of work to get the victory. The senior allowed an earned run on seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. Jake Weimer (Pittsboro, Ind./Brownsburg) got the final two outs, working out of a jam to get his third save.
Prebynski and Sullivan each had two hits in the game for the Thunder.