SANFORD, Fla. – The Trine University baseball team wrapped up play for their spring break trip on Friday morning with a doubleheader sweep of Penn State University-Altoona. The Thunder notched a shutout victory 7-0 in game one and secured a 7-4 win on the back end. The wins put Trine at 6-5 overall while the Lions of Altoona fall to 3-7.
GAME ONE RECAP:
The Thunder got a dominant performance from their All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) pitcher from one year ago, Josh Hoogewerf. The junior right-hander twirled a complete game shutout over seven innings of work and struck out nine.
Before Hoogewerf could even take the mound, Trine found themselves ahead 1-0 in the top of the first. An error and single by Adam Stefanelli put a runner in scoring position for Cory Erbskorn. The senior right fielder laced a double down the left field line to plate the game's first run. Erbskorn would finish the game at 4-for-4 with three runs batted in.
Erbskorn would strike again in the top of the third when he once again doubled down the left field line. This time it was preceded by a walk from Stefanelli and base hit by Joel Walton, who was serving as the designated hitter in game one. Both runners scored on the play to make it 3-0 Thunder.
Hoogewerf continued to deal on the bump with a 1-2-3 third inning and a timely double play in the fourth. Daniel Rumberger doubled with two away in the top half of the inning and came around to score with the help of an error to provide further insurance.
Dalton Nikirk entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth and his leadoff single set the table for a productive inning. Rumberger walked to put two aboard and a two-out single from Matthew Martin drove in both runners.
In the seventh, Walton and Erbskorn each reached with hits to put runners on first and third, and a two-out stolen base allowed Walton to advance home to put the score at 7-0. Hoogewerf worked around a leadoff single to put away the Lions in 98 total pitches.
GAME TWO RECAP:
After getting shutout in the prior game, Altoona scored a run in the top of the first inning, but Trine countered with a run of their own in the bottom half. Martin and Stefanelli each drew walks and swiped a base to put two in scoring position and a groundout by Walton brought home a run.
Starting pitcher Cam Nagel bounced back nicely with 1-2-3 innings in the second and third and the offense provided the junior righthander with the lead. Rumberger hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Nikirk, who reached via an error, and Robert Kortas was able to steal home to make it 3-1 Thunder.
A bulk of the scoring came in the fourth inning, as the Lions were able to tie the game up at three before Trine reclaimed the lead. Kortas and Matt Weis were on board with consecutive singles and Martin was able to clear the bases with a ball hit into right. Avery Fulford followed that play up with a hit and Stefanelli plated him later in the frame with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.
Altoona scratched across one more run in the top of the fifth and reliever Cole Decker appeared from the Thunder bullpen. The southpaw quickly got the groundout he needed to end the fifth and stayed on for the remainder of the contest. He struck out the side in the sixth and faced the game's tying run in the seventh before ending the game on a lineout to second base.
Nagel (1-1) received the win on the mound after tossing 4.2 innings where he struck out three. Decker went 2.1 scoreless for his first career save and fanned three as well. In the batter's box, Kortas was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Four runs batted in were spread amongst Martin, Stefanelli, Walton and Rumberger.
A series at Franklin College beginning on Saturday, March 18 is next on the schedule for Trine baseball. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
