HOLLAND, Mich.-- After dropping game one to Hope, Trine rallied in the late innings of game two to earn the series split with the Flying Dutchmen Tuesday afternoon at Boeve Stadium.
Hope showcased extra-base power in taking the first game 11-3, but the Thunder were able to rally back to get the 4-3 victory in game two behind a three-run sixth. Senior catcher Kyle Auernhamer provided some clutch hitting in game two for Trine, knocking in three runs. Brandon Mylcraine (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and Jake Weimer (Pittsboro, Ind./Brownsburg) combined to allow just five hits in game two. The Flying Dutchmen hit three home runs and notched six extra-base hits overall in game one. Trine wraps up the season-opening MIAA series 6-8 overall and 2-2 in league play. Hope is 7-4 overall, 2-2 in conference play.
Game One: Hope 11, Trine 3
The Flying Dutchmen made solid contact all game and Austin Goodyke tossed a complete game to lead Hope to the game one victory.
Tyler Gulick hit his third home run of the series against Trine, launching a three-run shot in the second to get the Dutch on the board. Gulick later added an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Brady VanderWeele and Devin Schaefers each added home runs later in the game. Schaefers drove in three runs in the game, two of which came on his home run in the fourth. Ryan Konkle, Landon Brouwer and Ben Pearson each added two-hit games.
Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc./Hartford Union) notched an RBI-double for Trine. Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill) picked up a sac fly, while Mike Seaman (Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota West) added a pinch-hit RBI-single.
Goodyke allowed two earned runs on eight scattered hits and struck out two to earn the victory.
Game Two: Trine 4, Hope 3
After falling behind in the middle innings, the Thunder were able to fight back late to earn the series split.
Trine struck first in the bottom of the second, as Zach Thorn (Portage, Ind./Portage) led off with a double and advanced to third to give the Thunder a scoring opportunity with nobody out. The Flying Dutchmen nearly got out of the inning, but Auernhamer came through with a two-out single through the left side of the infield to make the score 1-0.
The Flying Dutchmen came back with three runs over the next two innings to take the lead. Gulick came in to score on an RBI-groundout by VanderWeele in the third, while Pearson added a two-run double in the fourth.
Hope looked to tack on more runs in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Weimer was able to induce a ground ball to short that Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) converted into a 6-3 double play to get the Thunder out of the inning.
Palmer (Hartford, Wisc./Hartford Union) drew a one-out walk to get the rally started in the sixth. Thorn followed with a double to split the left-center gap, scoring Palmer to cut the score to 3-2. Kendall then singled through the right side to put runners at the corners with one down. A strikeout as Kendall swiped second set the stage for the game-winning hit.
Auernhamer rapped a ball into center, scoring both runners with two outs to give the Thunder the 4-3 lead. All three of Auernhamer's RBIs in the game came with two down.
Weimer shut the door in the seventh to earn the victory with his 1.2 innings of relief work. Mylcraine received a no-decision after 5.1 innings of work, in which he allowed three earned runs on four hits and fanned two.
Trine continues MIAA play this Saturday, as they open up a four-game series against Albion at 1 p.m. at Jannen Field.