LEEBURG, Fla.—The Trine baseball team split a doubleheader against Greenville in extra inning games at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Thursday.
The first game of the doubleheader was tied at eight all after seven innings. The Panthers' Mike Hardin homered to left field to end the game in a win for Greenville.
In game two, both teams were once again deadlocked at seven after nine innings. Kevin O'Malley (Commerce Township, Mich./Walled Lake Central) notched a walk-off single to left field to drive in the game-winning run for the Thunder.
Trine improves to 4-3 for the season, while Greenville moves to 7-6.
Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc./Hartford Union) led the Thunder offense with four hits, including a homerun and a triple, to drive in three runners. In game two, Zach Seder (Saginaw, Mich./Valley Lutheran) notched three hits as the designated player driving in three runs. Zachary Schulte (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino) had three hits with two RBI.
GAME ONE: Greenville 9, Trine 8 (Eight Innings)
The Thunder got on the board first after Chase Mahoy (Darlington, Ind./North Montgomery) doubled to center field to drive in two runs in the top of the second inning. Greenville came within a run in the bottom of the inning off a solo homer by Austin Marsh.
Greenville added three more runs in the bottom of the third. The Thunder grabbed back the lead in the fifth after driving in three runs off an RBI by Schulte and a triple by Palmer. The Thunder added two more tallies in the sixth with Schulte driving in another run and Chase Hall (Orleans, Ind./Orleans) walking with the bases loaded.
Trine increased its lead to 8-4 in the top of the seventh, but the Panthers rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at eight all sending the game into extra innings. Hardin's walk-off homer earned the win for the Panthers.
Palmer, Jake LaBounty (Avon, Ind./Covenant Christian), Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind./Prairie Heights) and Chris Frantz (Niles, Mich./Niles) each had two hits for the Thunder. Caleb Deiter started the game going five innings striking out four batters. Jake Roddy took the loss in relief for the Thunder.
Travis Ralls and Hardin led the Panthers with three hits each. Klaiton Wolff and Austin Marsh each notched two hits. Wolff earned the win for the Panthers.
GAME TWO: Trine 8, Greenville 7 (10 Innings)
The Panthers opened with two runs off a homerun from Ralls in the top of the first inning, and Trine answered with three of its own. Seder doubled to centerfield for three RBI.
Greenville tied the game in the top of the third, but the Thunder quickly grabbed back the advantage with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Trine added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Palmer launched a leadoff homerun to right field, and O'Malley drove in a run off a fielder's choice.
The Panthers tied up the game at seven all in the top of the sixth inning driving in four runs. Both teams were scoreless in the next three innings to send the game into the 10th.
Nick Ricci (Hebron, Ind./Crown Point) walked to the open the 10th for the Thunder. He advanced to second after Heller reached base off a bunt. Seder singled to left field to load the bases, and O'Malley drove in the game-winning run off a single to left.
Seder led the Thunder with three hits and three RBI as the designated player. Four Thunder players each added two hits, including O'Malley who drove in two runs. Hall and Palmer each added an RBI. Alec Patterson pitched 4.2 innings in relief to earn the win.
The Thunder will wrap up play at RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Friday by taking on Framington State at 9 a.m. in Winter Haven, Fla. at Chain of Lakes Stadium