KALAMAZOO, MICH.  --  The Trine University baseball team fell in both games in the final doubleheader against Kalamazoo (Mich.) College, 11-1 and 7-4, in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Trine (7-7, 1-3 MIAA) had to play catch-up early in the first game as Kalamazoo (4-6, 3-1 MIAA) got seven runs across home plate in the first inning that included a two-RBI double with bases loaded and was followed by a two-RBI triple as the Hornets led, 7-0.  

KZOO added to its lead in the bottom of the third with two more runs to make it a 9-0 game before the Thunder got on the board in the top of the fourth on a RBI-single by junior Stephen Sieczkowski (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Technical) with a runner on third base.  Kalamazoo then responded in the bottom of the inning with two more runs on a two-run double to extend the margin to 11-1.

Trine looked to threaten in the sixth with runners on first and second base, but could not get any runs across and was held scoreless the rest of the way as the Hornets went to claim the 11-1 win in game one.

The Thunder posted 10 hits in the game with Sieczkowski finishing a perfect three-of-three in addition to his RBI.  Sophomore Nick Ricci (Hebron, Ind./Crown Point) had a pair of hits in three at-bats, and freshman Shayne Devine (Valparaiso, Ind./Portage) also had two hits in four at-bats.

On the hill, freshman Adam Wheaton (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Prep) started the game, but was credited with the loss after giving up 11 runs, 10 earned, on 11 hits and had five strikeouts.  Sophomore Cougar Wallace (Glennie, Mich./Tawas Area) pitched an inning and two-thirds in relief and allowed just a hit, while striking out three batters.  Freshman Heath Houser (Kenton, Ohio/Kenton Senior) pitched the final third-of-an-inning and gave up no hits or runs.

In game two, KZOO plated a run in the bottom of the first and second innings to take an early 2-0 lead.  Trine evened the game in the top of the fourth when sophomore Jake Roddy (Angola, Ind./Angola) connected on a triple that scored both sophomore Thomas Rivet (Howell, Mich./Hartland) and senior Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill).

Trine then took the lead in the fifth with a run that scored with bases loaded to make it a 3-2 game.  But the Hornets tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead by a score of, 4-3. 

Both teams traded runs in the sixth with Trine's run coming off the bat of Devine with a RBI-single as the Thunder still trailed by a run, 5-4.  KZOO put the game away in the eighth with two more runs and got Trine to record the game-ending outs in the top of the ninth, despite giving up back-to-back singles in the frame, as the Hornets went on the 7-4 final to complete the doubleheader sweep and claim the overall series.

Trine ended the nightcap with six hits at the plate.  Conn was the lone Thunder player to record a multi-hit game and went two-of-three with a run scored.

Freshman Ben West (Stanton, Mich./Central Montcalm) started the game and pitched four-and-a-third innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and struck out three batters in a no decision.  Sophomore Shawn Ligocki (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) pitched two and two-thirds innings in relief and was credited with the loss after giving up a lone run on two hits to go along with a strikeout.  Freshman Kyle Robinson (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) pitched the final inning and gave up a pair of runs on three hits.

Trine is scheduled to travel to Ada, Ohio for a non-conference game against Ohio Northern University on Monday, Mar. 26.  The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.