ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University baseball team moved another game above five hundred by securing a 10-5 victory over visiting Wright State University – Lake Campus. A big third inning for the offense led the way to the lopsided win, despite a late push by the Lakers.
Josh Hoogewerf made the start for the Thunder on the mound and pitched a nearly spotless first three innings. He allowed just three base runners in those opening innings, two on hits and one on a walk, but gave up no runs.
The offense came alive in the bottom of the third, plating five runs in the long half inning. After a leadoff out, Tyler Beyke reached first on an error by the third baseman, starting a chain reaction of a hit by pitch and a bunt single that loaded the bases. Dalton Nikirk and Joel Walton both came through in their at-bats with balls hit high into the outfield. Both hits got caught in the wind and landed out of reach of the diving center fielder.
With the score 2-0 and the bases still loaded the opposition got their second out of the inning but gave up a third run on the flyball to rightfield by Easton Rhodes. Cole Schmidthuber and Luke Burford continued the scoring with RBI-singles that made the lead 5-0 before the end of the inning.
The long break seemed to effect Hoogewerf as he struggled to start the top of the fourth. The first two batters reached base and a runner advanced to third on a fielder's choice. A single scored a run for Wright State-Lake and broke up the shutout. The score remained 5-1 at the end of the half inning, after the Thunder pitcher settled back into a rhythm.
Nikirk got his second RBI of the day in the bottom of the fourth, plating the lone run for the team after Beyke led off the order with a single. Two more runs crossed the plate in the fifth for the team when Cole Temple grounded into what should have been a double play, but instead turned into an RBI fielder's choice that scored two runs when the Lakers' short stop threw the ball into the dugout.
Kade Keele replaced Hoogewerf on the stripe for the top of the sixth. The starter finished the game with a healthy lead allowing just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Keele would pitch two innings in relief, striking out three while allowing none to reach base.
The offense kept up the pace in the bottom of the inning. Both Burford and Preston Henschen tallied RBI-singles to build the team's lead to 10-1.
The team took their foot off the gas after gaining the nine-run lead with the Lakers scoring four more in response. The Thunder held off the charge and ended the game with a 10-5 victory.
Trine improves to 8-6 following the win. They will continue their series against Wright State-Lake tomorrow, Sunday, March 24 on the road. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
