FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Trine University baseball team dropped the final two games of three against Franklin College on Monday afternoon. Game one had a score of 18-8 and game two was 14-1. Both games ended under run-rule in seven innings.
Trine is now 6-8 while Franklin improves their 2023 record to 9-5.
GAME ONE RECAP:
The top of the first inning started well for the Thunder after Joel Walton drove in a run with a fielder's choice. Robert Kortas, Matthew Martin and Adam Stefanelli all walked to load the bases to set up the sophomore for the RBI opportunity.
From there, it was all Franklin as the Grizzlies rattled off 10 unanswered runs, including seven in the second inning alone. All runs scored were unearned as Franklin took a commanding 10-1 edge through four.
Trine chipped away by manufacturing a run in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Grizzlies extended their lead in their half of the frame by scoring eight total runs on four hits. Dalton Nikirk drove in a run via an RBI single in the fifth while a Walton walk with the bases loaded plated a third run on the day for the Thunder.
In an attempt to avoid a run-rule loss, Trine was able to take advantage of an error to put up a crooked number themselves. Dane DuBois led off the inning by getting plunked with a pitch. Preston Henschen reached base on an error and Tyler Robinson drew a walk to load the bases. Martin drove in two with a single and Stefanelli followed that up with his first homerun of the 2023 season that made it 18-8. The final out would be recorded by the Grizzlies to stop play in seven innings.
Hitters 2-5 drove in all eight runs, with Stefanelli's three-run homerun leading the team. Nikirk was the only man with multiple hits as 14 different position players saw the field. Robert Kortas and Martin drew two walks apiece and also had a base hit. Cam Nagel (1-2) received the loss despite not allowing an earned run.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Two errors in the bottom of the first inning put the Thunder behind immediately. Franklin sent 12 to the dish in a seven-run inning that chased Kade Keele from the game. The Grizzlies tacked on five more runs through four innings to take a commanding 12-0 lead.
The top of the fifth saw Trine get on the board in game two. Easton Rhodes began the frame with a single and Brody Bond reached on a fielder's choice. Bond advanced to second base on a wild pitch and DuBois pushed him to third on a groundball out. Daniel Rumberger delivered an RBI single to left with two down. A two-run homerun for Franklin make it 14-1 through five.
A flurry of defensive and pitching changes for Trine put Rylan McBride on the bump as he tossed a scoreless sixth inning. The Thunder were unable to put together a rally with their backs against the wall, but Jackson O'Keefe led off the seventh with a hit.
The offense had four hits spread among Martin, O'Keefe, Rhodes and Rumberger and on the mound, Keele (0-1) received the loss. McBride and Drew Basso each did not allow an earned run.
Non-conference play continues for Trine on Tuesday, March 21 when the team travels to Manchester University to take on the Spartans beginning at 4 p.m.