ADRIAN, MICH. -- The Trine University baseball team fell short of Adrian (Mich.) College, 3-0, in the final game of a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association four-game series.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning despite both teams having scoring chances early on. Adrian (xx-xx, xx-xx MIAA) had bases loaded in the top of the first inning, but with two outs, and the Trine (xx-xx, xx-xx MIAA) defense came through to record the final out before any runs could cross home plate. The Thunder would get a runner to third base in the bottom of the frame, but also with two outs, and could not get the run to score before the final out was made.
Both squads had additional scoring opportunities in the fourth inning, but both defenses stepped up again to prevent any runs from scoring to keep the game scoreless.
The Bulldogs broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth that began with a lead-off ground rule double. The ensuing batter attempted a bunt which turned into a single and advanced the runner at second base to third. In the next at-bat, the runner at third scored on a sacrifice fly to make the score, 1-0.
In the top of the seventh, Adrian tacked on two more runs on three straight hits that included a run-scoring single and then a two-RBI double that increased the margin to 3-0. In the bottom of the inning, Trine led off with a walk. Adrian then sealed the victory with three consecutive outs, all via strikeout, ending any possible rally and went on to the 3-0 final.
The Trine bats were held to just two hits in the game with sophomore Joe Fiorucci (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph) tallying one of those hits and was one-of-two overall. Senior Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Prairie Heights) had the other hit and was one-of-three for the game.
Junior Shawn Ligocki (West Chicago, Ill./St. Charles East) started at pitcher and pitched six innings allowing just a lone run on three hits to go along with a strikeout in the loss. Junior Caleb Deiter (Whiteland, Ind./Whiteland Community) replaced Ligocki in the seventh and recorded two outs while giving up two runs on three hits. Sophomore Kyle Robinson (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) finished the game allowing no runs or hits.
Trine is scheduled to begin the final MIAA four-game set of the season with a doubleheader on Friday, May. 3 against Albion (Mich.) College at Jannen Field. The first game is slated to start at 2 p.m.