WINTER HAVEN, Fla.-- The Trine baseball team opened the season with a split against Anna Maria Sunday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park.
The Thunder came out of the gates firing on all cylinders in an 11-0 victory in game one. The Amcats returned the favor with a late rally to take game two by a 6-3 final. Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc./Hartford Union) had a huge day at the plate for Trine, smacking his first collegiate homer and knocking in five runs as part of a four-hit day. Eddie Tomich (Carmel, Ind./Westfield) spun a one-hit shutout on the mound in the game one victory. Trine opens the season 1-1. Anna Maria is also 1-1.
Game One: Trine 11, Anna Maria 0
Tomich threw a one-hitter for his first-career shutout. The senior carved up the Amcats' lineup, striking out 10 batters and walking just one. Tomich's 10 K's are the second-most in a game at Trine in the Division-III era. The performance marked just the second time a Trine pitcher had struck out 10 or more in a game since 2004.
After two scoreless frames, the Thunder broke through on Palmer's two-run homer and an RBI-double by Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) to take a 3-0 lead.
Trine later batted around in the sixth-inning, breaking out the bats for eight runs on nine hits. The Thunder notched three extra-base hits in the inning, including an RBI-triple by Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) and an RBI-double by Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb).
Singles by Palmer and RJ Flowers (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) each plated two more runs. Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) and Mike Seaman (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota West) each added run-scoring singles in the inning.
Palmer's three hits led the way offensively. Kendall, Prebynski, Baer and Shackle each added a pair of hits.
Game Two: Anna Maria 6, Trine 3
A five-run sixth inning proved to be Trine's undoing, as the Amcats fought back from a 3-1 deficit to earn the victory.
Nate Frederick put Anna Maria on the board with a solo homer in the top of the first. Freshman Jake LaBounty (Avon, Ind./Covenant Christian) plated a run with his first-career hit, and Shackle added an RBI-groundout in a two-run second for the Thunder.
Palmer's RBI-double in the fifth gave Trine a 3-1 advantage before the Amcats rallied.
Anna Maria took advantage of two Thunder errors in the inning. Corey Andrade and Corey McNair each provided two-run singles, while David Julian added an RBI-single.
Vinny Slobodecki (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) struck out six over six innings of one-run ball for the Thunder.
Trine returns to action tomorrow against Rose-Hulman. First pitch is slated for 10:30 a.m. at Chain Of Lakes Park Stadium.