AUBURNDALE, FLA. -- The Trine University baseball team got off to a fast start to begin its annual spring trip to Florida with a pair of victories against Union (N.Y.) College, 3-0 and 4-2, at Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Fla.
In game one of the doubleheader, Trine (3-2) scored all three of its runs within the first three innings starting with a run in the top of the first inning that came on a RBI-single by senior Chase Hall (Orleans, Ind./Orleans) that scored fellow senior Thomas Rivet (Howell, Mich./Hartland) who led off the game with a triple.
Two innings later, the Thunder added a pair of additional runs thanks to a fielder's choice with runners on first and third base that allowed junior Jake Conley (Moline, Ill./Black Hawk CC) to score and then a run-scoring base hit by junior Shayne Devine (Valparaiso, Ind./Portage) later in the inning to make it a 3-0 ball game.
In addition to the offense, Trine got a stellar effort on the mound by junior Adam Wheaton (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Prep) who pitched seven shutout innings and gave up just four hits while striking out nine batters and issued no walks.
The Thunder bats finished with eight hits in the game with Devine going two-of-two with a RBI. Rivet also had a multi-hit game with two hits in three at-bats in addition to scoring a run.
In game two, Trine got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning with three runs that included a RBI-base hit by Conley and a run-scoring groundout by Hall with runners at second and third base.
Union got two of the runs back in the top of the second inning on a RBI-single and double that cut the Trine lead to a run, 3-2, after two innings of play.
The lead remained a run for the Thunder until the bottom of the sixth when Rivet led-off with a double and then advanced to third base on a fly-out two outs later. After a walk put runners on first and third, Hall came through with another RBI-base hit to score Rivet from third base and increased the lead to 4-2 heading into the top of the seventh.
In Union's half of the seventh inning, the Dutchmen got a runner on base with a lead-off hit by pitch which was then followed by a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Trine got one out on the next Union at-bat on a play at the plate and then got a strikeout and flyout to end the inning and preserve the two-run victory, 4-2, and the doubleheader sweep.
Trine totaled six hits in the night cap and had two multi-hit performances in Rivet and Hall. Both players finished two-of-three. Rivet also scored a pair of runs and Hall ended the game with two RBI.
On the mound, sophomore Bryce Bloode (New Carlisle, Ind./New Prairie) got the start and pitched five-and-a-third innings allowing just two runs on five hits and struck out two batters. Junior Drew Cebulak (Oakmont, Pa./Central Catholic) came on to replace Bloode and pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief and had one strikeout. Senior Caleb Deiter (Whiteland, Ind./Whiteland Community) pitched the final inning and got his first save of the season giving up no runs and just one hit while tallying one strikeout.
Trine returns to the field tomorrow (Monday, Mar. 2) with a single, nine-inning game against Gwynedd Mercy (Pa.) University at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg, Fla. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.