WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The Trine baseball team split a high-scoring doubleheader against Utica on Tuesday afternoon at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
Trine fell to Utica, 26-9, in the first game, but bounced back to win 16-7 in game two. The Thunder is 3-1 for the season, while the Pioneers move to 4-2.
The Thunder took advantage of hot bats in the bottom of the fifth in game two driving in nine runs. Trine followed by hitting in four more in the sixth to secure the win. Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc. / Hartford Union) was seven-for-nine on the day with nine RBI. Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) went six-for-eight at the plate driving in three runs. The Pioneers were led by JT Ross with seven hits and six RBI, while Adam Neil had six hits.
Game One: Utica 26, Trine 9
The Thunder held a one run lead through two innings, but Utica tied up the game in the third. The Pioneers drove in nine runs in the fifth, and followed with 12 in the sixth to earn the win.
Dom Caccioppoli earned the win for Utica after coming in to relieve starter Eric Sahagian. The Pioneers were led by right fielder JT Ross going six-for-six and driving in six runs off four doubles. Tim Quinlan notched three hits driving in five runs, including a three-run homer.
Nick Ricci (Hebron, Ind./Crown Point) drove in three runs off two hits for the Thunder. Palmer went three-for-four at the plate with two RBI.
Game Two: Trine 16, Utica 7
Utica held a 6-3 advantage going into the bottom of the fifth inning. The Thunder grabbed the lead with a nine-run fifth inning. Palmer went four-for-five with a career high seven RBI, while Conn was a perfect five-for-five with three RBI. Trine batters combined for 16 hits.
Palmer homered to open scoring in the bottom of the fifth and drive in two runs. Jake LaBounty (Avon, Ind./Covenant Christian), Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Prairie Heights) and Robert Ross (Valparaiso, Ind./Washington Township) all singled, and Ross drove in a run to tie the game at six all. Conn drove in two runs off a single to left center, and Palmer earned two more RBI with his second hit of the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Derek Bowyer (Churubusco, Ind./Churubusco) drove in two more runs with a triple to right center. Bowyer scored off Conn's single to right field. Palmer earned his seventh RBI after driving in Conn off a single down the left field line.
Grant Frankland (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) started the game for the Thunder going four innings. Frankland allowed two earned runs and struck out two batters. Dylan Hutchison (Montpelier, Ohio/North Central) earned his first career win allowing only one run in two innings. Shaun Seigneur (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing) closed out the game for Trine in the seventh inning, shutting out Utica and striking out two batters.
Mike Fancher drove in three runners off two hits for the Pioneers. Carrigan added three more hits for Utica. H. Demers-St. Hillaire pitched 4.1 innings allowing five runs off nine hits and striking out five. Mark Spina took the loss for the Pioneers.
The Thunder continues action at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on
