Angola, Ind. – After dropping game one, the Trine baseball team came back to take game two and earn the split in its MIAA home opener Monday afternoon at Jannen Field.
Calvin scored five runs in the seventh to take game one. Trine bounced back and took game two. The offensive attack in game two was led by Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc. / Hartford Union). He went two-for-three with a two-run homer in game two and totaled four hits on the day. Palmer now has nine career homeruns. The two teams split the four game series.
Trine is now 8-5 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play. Calvin is 6-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Game One: Trine 1, Calvin 6
David Dahms earned the win for Calvin and improved his record to 2-0.
Grant Frankland (Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern) pitched for the first 5.2 innings for Trine. Frankland had five strikeouts and only gave up one run.
The Knights struck first with bases loaded when Jonathan Keane picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice.
The Thunder tied the game back up at one apiece in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI ground out coming from Ben Pritchett (Fishers, Ind. / Fishers).
In the top of the seventh inning Calvin, went on to score five runs with bases loaded. The Knights took advantage of four hit-by-pitches and two walks. The big inning capped the scoring and the final 6-1 margin.
Game Two: Trine , Calvin
Caleb Dieter made his first MIAA start for the Thunder and picked up his first career victory. He improved to 1-1 with 5.2 innings of work. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out three. Andy Farrell (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / St. Vincent St. Mary) earned his first career save. He worked 2.2 shutout innings and struck out three.
Jonathan Kea was credited with the lost for Calvin. His record fell to 0-2.
Trine drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs on the Knights. An RBI single by J.J. LaBounty (Avon, Ind. / Covenant Christian) started the scoring parade. A balk brought in another run. Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio / Indian Hill) singled to left field and a misplay allowed another run to cross the plate. Chase Mahoy (Darlington, Ind. / North Montgomery) capped the inning with an RBI single to centerfield.
Miles Kuperus was able to get Calvin on the board when he hit an RBI double to right field in the top of the second. Mike Kempton got another run back for the Knights with a RBI single to make the score 4-2.
In the top of the fourth inning Calvin got within one run of Trine coming by the RBI sac fly from Logan Marshall. Trine led 4-3.
Trine added a run when a runner crossed the plate on a throw to second. Palmer went on to add two runs in the three-run fourth with his home run to right-center.
Jeremy Clark and Kyle Houts were able to get two-runs for Calvin with their RBI singles in the top of the seventh. With two innings to play, the Knights trailed 7-5.
The Thunder return to action Saturday, April 1, when they travel to Olivet for a MIAA conference doubleheader. First pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
Article contributed by Cody Konieczki, Trine University '17
