ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University baseball team won a marathon game on Tuesday afternoon 6-5 against Adrian College. The game lasted 15 innings and finally came to a close just before the sun set on Jannen Field thanks to a walk-off bases loaded single by Dalton Nikirk.
Trine now holds a record of 12-9 overall and 3-0 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. Adrian falls to 10-12 and 2-2 in the league.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Thunder got on the board thanks to a two-out RBI single from the future hero, Nikirk. Matthew Martin led off the inning with a walk and Tyler Beyke moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Adam Stefanelli grounded out to the right side to place Martin 90 feet from home and Nikirk slapped a single up the middle to plate a run.
The Bulldogs answered immediately with a run in the top of the second, but Trine would reclaim the lead in the third. Cory Erbskorn and Robert Kortas delivered two-out RBI hits, including a double to deep right by Kortas to make it 3-1 Thunder.
The teams would trade the lead once again after Adrian tallied a three-spot in the fourth inning and Erbskorn laced a two-run double to right center field to chase the Bulldog pitcher from the game at 5-4 Trine.
The bullpens for both teams were effective in keeping their opponents off the board for the most part. Cole Decker entered for the Thunder in the fifth inning and recorded three scoreless frames. Adrian was able to put a charge into one and tie the game with a solo homerun in the eighth inning, but from there relief pitcher Noah Brettin settled in to keep the game moving in extra innings.
As the game wore on, replacements on offense and in the field were unable to secure a game-ending hit. The best opportunity presented itself in the 11th inning when back-to-back singles by Stefanelli and Nikirk put runners on first and second, but both were left on base.
The Bulldogs used a hit by pitch to start the 13th inning, but key defensive plays kept Adrian off the board. Catcher Matt Weis threw down the runner at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt and picked off a man at first base in the inning.
Freshman left-hander Jack Villarreal, who entered in the 12th, continued to deal and went 1-2-3 in the 14th and worked around an error in the 15th to continue the 5-5 tie. In the 15th, Trine was able to put together a two-out rally to win it. An error allowed Martin to reach base and a bloop single off the bat of Avery Fulford put the winning run on third. A walk drawn by Stefanelli loaded the bases and Nikirk shot one through the left side of the infield that sent the home dugout into a frenzy.
Starting pitcher Kade Keele allowed just one earned run in a no decision. Villarreal (1-0) received his first win in college with 4.0 innings of work, two hits, zero runs, zero walks and a team-high four strikeouts. In the batter's box, Erbskorn was 4-for-7 with a team-high three RBIs. Nikirk followed suit at 3-for-7 and two runs batted in. Weis was able to reach base three times in four plate appearances, all by walks.
The Thunder are at home on Friday, April 7 when Kalamazoo College comes to Angola, Indiana. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.