ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University baseball team concluded a four-game set with a pair of losses against Adrian (Mich.) College, 6-5 and 2-1, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader at Jannen Field in Angola, Ind.
Adrian (28-5, 22-2 MIAA) grabbed the early lead in game one with a run in the top of the first inning that came on a RBI-single. The lead didn't last long, however, as Trine (17-19, 11-13 MIAA) scored three unanswered runs, beginning with a two-spot in the bottom of the second that came on a solo homerun by sophomore Nick Ricci (Hebron, Ind./Crown Point) in the second at-bat of the inning, and a RBI-base hit by junior Stephen Sieczkowski (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Technical) that gave the Thunder a 2-1 lead. Trine then added another run in the third off of a run-scoring single by sophomore Thomas Rivet (Howell, Mich./Hartland) to make it a 3-1 game.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the fifth by plating five runs that included a three-run double with bases loaded to make the score 6-3. Trine got two of the runs back in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-run home run by senior Kevin O'Malley (Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Central), but the Thunder were held scoreless the rest of the way as Adrian hung for the one-run victory, 6-5.
Trine put up four hits in the game, all by different players. Ricci finished the game one-of-three with his lone hit being his solo home run and also ended the game with a run scored and RBI. O'Malley was one-of-four with a run scored and two RBI. Rivet also went one-of-four to go along with a RBI and Sieczkowski was one-of-three in addition to a RBI.
On the mound, sophomore Mike Gustin (Hudson, Ind./Prairie Heights) pitched five innings in the start, but suffered the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits and struck out four batters. Fellow sophomore Caleb Dieter (Whiteland, Ind./Whiteland Community) pitched the final two innings in relief and allowed no runs on two hits and tallied one strikeout.
In the nightcap, Adrian again grabbed the first lead of the game, this time with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning on a two-run base hit up the middle with bases loaded to lead, 2-0. The only other run in the game came in the bottom of the fifth when Trine got on the board with a RBI-ground out by senior Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) that allowed Sieczkowski to score from third base.
The Thunder were then kept off the scoreboard the remainder of the game as a solid starting pitcher performance by the visiting Bulldogs preserved its second-straight one-run victory and took both games to complete the four-game series sweep.
At the plate, Trine had six hits overall with Sieczkowski, and fellow juniors Chris Frantz (Niles, Mich./Niles) and Cale Hall (Orleans, Ind./Orleans) all recording two hits. All three players went two-of-three with Sieczkowski also adding a run scored.
Freshman Adam Wheaton (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Prep) started the game and pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and struck out nine batters despite the loss. Freshman Kyle Robinson (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) came on to pitch an inning and two-thirds of relief and gave up no runs on just one hit and a walk. Deiter replaced Robinson and got the final out of the game after giving up a lone walk.
Trine will wrap-up the regular-season a final four-game series against Albion (Mich.) College that begins on Friday, May 4 with a doubleheader at Champions Stadium in Albion, Mich. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.