ALBION, MICH. -- The Trine University baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Albion (Mich.) College, 7-0 and 8-5, to start a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association four-game series.
In game one, Albion (10-16, 6-10 MIAA) got on the scoreboard eary with two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a double and then a wild pitch later in the inning with a runner on third base. The Britons then broke the game open with a five-run third inning on a series of run scoring singles that made it a 7-0 ball game.
Trine (5-18, 5-9 MIAA) mustered just three hits in the game and the runs scored by Albion turned out to be the only points of the game as the Britons claimed the 7-0 shut out.
Junior Gary DeMartino (Beavercreek, Ohio/Owens C.C.) recorded two of Trine's three hits and finished two-of-three overall. Fellow junior Brenden Warner (Richland, Mich./Hackett Catholic Prep) had the Thunder's other hit and ended the game one-of-two officially.
Freshman Josh Hoogewerf (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) started on the hill for the Thunder and pitched two and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs on 11 hits to go along with three strikeouts. Junior Austin Nuessgen (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) pitched the final three-and-a-third innings and gave up no runs and just two hits in addition to striking out four batters.
Trine started game two with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning that were the result of a RBI-base hit by Warner with runners on first and second base. The hit was then followed by a run-scoring fielder's choice by senior Shayne Devine (Valparaiso, Ind./Portage) which gave the Thunder an early 2-0 advantage.
Albion answered in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of its own thanks to a throwing error on a stolen base attempt and then a single that found space in left field to even the game at 2-2.
Trine regained the lead in the fourth inning by plating two more runs on a groundout by senior Jake Conley (Moline, Ill./Black Hawk CC) with runners on second and third, which was then followed by a RBI-single up the middle by freshman Dalton Nikirk (Bedford, Ind./Bedford North Lawrence) during the very next at-bat to put the Thunder ahead, 4-2.
The lead remained two runs for the visitors until the Britons put up back-to-back innings of three runs in the fifth and sixth frames to lead, 8-4, going into the seventh inning.
After getting its first two batters on base to start the top of the seventh, Trine hit into consecutive outs, but then scored a run a single to right center field by sophomore Matt Weis (Trenton, Ill./Triad) to inch the Thunder closer by a margin of 8-5. But that was as close as Trine got as the game ended on an ensuing strikeout, sealing the three-run victory for Albion, 8-5.
Both teams recorded nine hits in the night cap with Trine being led by Nikirk who had three hits in four plate appearances in addition to scoring a run and a RBI. Sophomore Adam Steffanelli (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville North) also finished with a multi-hit game going two-of-four and scored a run.
At pitcher, senior Conner Dove (St. Joe, Ind./Eastside) got the start, but suffered the loss after going four-and-a-third innings and gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits and had one strikeout. Senior Kyle Robinson (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) came on in relief and pitched a third of an inning, allowing no runs or hits. Senior Drew Cebulak (Oakmont, Pa./Central Catholic) pitched the remainder of the game and allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and struck out to batters in an inning-and-a-third.
Trine and Albion will conclude the series tomorrow (Sunday, Apr. 25) with a second doubleheader that is scheduled to be played at Jannen Field in Angola, Ind. The first game is set for a 1 p.m. start.