Angola, Ind. – Trine's baseball team defeated Ohio Northern in walk-off fashion, 12-11, in its home opener Tuesday afternoon at Jannen Field.
Trine overcame a six run deficit in a comeback fashion. Ben Pritchett (Fishers, Ind. / Fishers) hit the walk-off RBI single up the middle to cap the comeback. Jake LaBounty (Avon, Ind. / Covenant Christian) had two hits and four RBIs to lead the comeback effort. Robert Ross (Valparaiso, Ind. / Washington Township) contributed three RBIs. Trine improved its record to 6-3. Ohio Northern fell to 8-6.
Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wis. / Hartford Union) went two-for-three at the plate with two doubles. Palmer extended his hitting streak to eight games. With his two doubles today he is now tied for third in team history for career doubles with 29. Palmer moved into sixth place in total bases in career with 190.
Ohio Northern drew first blood with an RBI ground out by Brandon Kasberg allowed Luke Klinehoffer to crossed home plate in the top of first. The Polar Bears added another run to its score with a long RBI single by Phil Buckingham.
Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Prairie Heights) was able to cross home plate to get the Thunder on the scoreboard coming from a sac fly by LaBounty. Zach Seder (Saginaw, Mich. / Valley Lutheran) tied the score back up to two apiece when he hit an RBI single. Seder now has a four game hitting streak with his RBI single.
Ohio Northern loaded the bases quickly and scored five runs in the top of the second to make the score 7-2. The Polar Bears led Trine 7-2. In the top of the third Buckingham hit an RBI single to make the score 8-2.
Trine cut into the lead with a run in the third on an RBI-single by LaBounty. The Thunder added three in the fourth, as Chase Hall (Orleans, Ind. / Orleans) hit his first collegiate double to drive in two. Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio / Indian Hill) added a sac fly to right cut the score to 8-6.
A two RBI double by Brandon Kasberg and an RBI double by Jordan Bostater allowed the Polar Bears to add three to its lead. Ohio Northern led 11-6 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
LaBounty started the big offensive inning off with a deep two RBI double to left center field allowing Conn and Palmer to score. With two outs and bases loaded, Ross hit a deep ball to center field for a pinch-hit, three-run double to tie the score.
Trine put two on with two out in the bottom of the ninth to set the stage for the walk-off. Pritchett hit a ground ball up the middle for the walk-off RBI single.
Trine returns to action when it travels to Calvin for a doubleheader and the MIAA opener for both teams. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Article contributed by Cody Konieczki, Trine University '17
