Angola, Ind. – Trine baseball defeated Olivet in both games of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Jannen Field.
The Thunder earn the sweep in the doubleheader to win all four games against the Comets this weekend. The doubleheader victory was led by Trine's pitching in both games. In game one, Grant Frankland (Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern) pitched his first complete game of his career and earned his first win on the season. Frankland had four strikeouts and only gave up one run on 54 pitches thrown.
In game two, Caleb Deiter (Whiteland, Ind. / Whiteland Community) earned the win on the mound and improved his record to 2-1. In seven innings of work Dieter struck out five, walked one and gave up three runs. Andy Farrell (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / St. Vincent St. Mary) earned his second save of the season. He worked two shutout innings and had one strikeout.
Trine's offense was led by Colton Conn (Cincinnati, Ohio / Indian Hill), Jacob Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Prairie Heights) and Chase Hall (Orleans, Ind. / Orleans) all having four hits on the day. Conn and Hall each recorded one RBI, and Heller drove in two runs.
Trine is now off to the best start in team history at 12-5, the previous record was 11-5 dating back to 1975. Trine is now 12-5 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play. Olivet is 4-16 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
Game One: Trine 5, Olivet 1
The Thunder took the quick lead over the Comets in the bottom of the first, when Conn crossed home plate for an unearned run.
Conn started the inning off with an RBI base hit. With bases loaded, Heller hit a two RBI single to put Trine up 4-0 over Olivet.
The Comets got on the board in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by Austin Cleaver. Olivet tailed by three still, 4-1.
Trine was able to earn that run back with a RBI base hit by Hall in the bottom of the same inning.
Game Two: Trine 5, Olivet 3
Aaron Gillespie was credited with the lost for Olivet. His record fell to 1-3. He had 10 strikeouts in eight innings of work.
Trine drew blood first in the first inning when it went up 1-0 coming from a RBI sac fly by Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc. / Hartford Union). Palmer moves into sole possession of fifth place, with 76, for career RBI's in team history with his RBI today.
In the bottom of the second, a communication error in the outfield for Olivet allowed Trine to score three to make the score 4-0.
Olivet got within one run of Trine in the top of the third. Cleaver started the inning off hitting an RBI single and Gillespie capped the inning with a two RBI base hit to left field.
Kevin O'Malley (Commerce Township, Mich. / Walled Lake Central) hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Thunder an insurance run. Trine led Olivet 5-3.
The Thunder return to action Tuesday, April 4, when it hosts non-conference opponent, Heidelberg, for a nine-inning game. First pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
Article contributed by Cody Konieczki, Trine University '17
