WINTER HAVEN, FLA. -- The Trine University baseball team captured a 3-2 win against DeSales (Pa.) University in walk-off fashion on a fielders choice with bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chain of Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla.
The game was Trine's second nine-inning game of the day as the matchup against the Bulldogs was rescheduled from yesterday due to rain.
Trine (4-1) scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning on a defensive error that allowed sophomore Joe Fiorucci (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph) to score from second base.
Neither team scored any more runs until the bottom of the fifth when the Thunder plated another run with a sacrifice fly by junior Shayne Devine (Valparaiso, Ind./Portage) that scored senior Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Prairie Heights) and increased the margin to 2-0.
DeSales (2-4) cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the seventh and then tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth via a bases loaded walk.
Following a scoreless top of the ninth by the Bulldogs, Trine worked its way to bases loaded in its half of the inning with only one out. After a walk by Heller to load the bases, junior Jake Roddy (Angola, Ind./Angola) put the ball in play that scored the game-winning run by senior Stevie Sieczkowski (Norwich, Conn./Norwich Technical) from third base to seal the 3-2 victory.
Trine was held to just three hits in the game with Devine and junior Chase Hall (Orleans, Ind./Orleans) both going one-of-three at the plate. Devine also finished with a RBI. Senior Cale Hall (Orleans, Ind./Orleans) recorded the other hit and was one-of-four overall. Sieczkowski, Fiorucci and Heller each scored a run to round out the Thunder statistical leaders offensively.
On the mound, junior Shawn Ligocki (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) started the game and pitched seven complete innings. Ultimately, he ended up with a no decision after a solid outing in which he gave up just a run on five hits and struck out three batters. Junior Tony Bottone (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers) pitched a third of an inning and allowed one run on one hit and had one strikeout. Junior Caleb Deiter (Whiteland, Ind./Whiteland Community) came on to pitch the final inning and two-thirds and got the win after allowing no runs and just one hit to go along with a pair of strikeouts.
The Thunder are scheduled to take on Fontbonne (Mo.) University tomorrow (Thursday, Mar. 8) in a single, nine-inning game that is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m.