ALMA, Mich. – The Trine University baseball team was swept by Alma College and dropped all three games of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) series against the Scots with losses 9-6 and 10-6 on Saturday.
The Thunder (10-16, 5-6 MIAA) have now lost three in a row after entering the weekend just a half-game out of the lead in the conference. The wins by the Scots (9-19, 6-5 MIAA) propel them up two spots in the standings.
GAME ONE RECAP:
Just like yesterday, Alma took an early lead with three runs in the first inning of play. Unlike game one of the series, Trine was able to respond in the second with three of their own to tie the game. Aided by two errors, the Thunder plated three runs on four hits, including a two-RBI single by Tyler Robinson [Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg] and a run-scoring single from Adam Stefanelli [Westerville, Ohio / Westerville North].
The second inning saw starting pitcher Bryce Bloode [New Carlisle, Ind. / New Prairie] settle in for a 1-2-3 frame, but another Scot run came across to score on two hits in the third to go up 4-3.
The game remained without a score until Trine put together a run scoring opportunity in the sixth. Matthew Martin [Eureka, Ill. / Eureka] singled with one out and Robinson behind him reached on a fielder's choice. The junior swiped second base and scored on a double to right by Stefanelli to tie it up once again.
A crooked number would be the team's downfall for the second straight day as Alma scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to claim an 8-4 lead. All four runs were kept off the ledger of reliever Robert Kortas [New Baltimore, Mich. / Anchor Bay].
Brenden Warner [Richland, Mich. / Hackett Catholic Prep] and Dalton Nikirk [Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence] were each responsible for runs scored in the eighth, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Alma got one back in the bottom half and retired the first three hitters of the ninth to win 9-6.
Stefanelli was the only hitter to reach base three times with two hits and a base on balls, while he and Robinson drove in two runs apiece. Martin and Matt Weis [Trenton, Ill. / Triad] had multiple hits turning the lineup over.
On the mound, Bloode received the loss (1-6) and completed 4.1 innings of work with two strikeouts. Kortas went 3.2 innings out of the bullpen with two K's as well.
GAME TWO RECAP:
The Scots put up one run in the bottom of the first, but the Thunder took the lead in the next half inning with two runs. Cory Erbskorn [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] brought Jackson O'Keefe [Saline, Mich. / Saline / Owens CC] home with a double into right center field and later scored on a wild pitch.
The lead would change hands twice as Alma connected for a two-run homerun and Martin and Stefanelli would each drive in runs with two-out singles into center to make it 5-4 Trine.
Things would become unraveled for the Thunder starting in the fifth. The Scots got one across in that inning and followed it up with three in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the eighth to take a 10-5 lead.
Easton Rhodes [Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb] hit a lead-off double in the ninth and was driven in by a groundout from Stefanelli. Unfortunately, that is all the offense had left in the tank in a 10-5 defeat.
Stefanelli had three hits in this one along with three runs batted in. O'Keefe was the only man to score twice in the ballgame.
Kade Keele [Fort Wayne, Ind. / New Haven] threw 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and only two earned runs against him in the loss (1-3). Jeff Ballard [Munster, Ind. / Munster], Noah Brettin [Rolling Prairie, Ind. / New Prairie] and Jake Schumacher [Carol Stream, Ill. / Glenbard North] all entered from the bullpen in the game.
The series finale between Trine and Adrian will take place on Tuesday, April 19. First pitch at Jannen Field is scheduled for 4 pm.