Box Score WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- As they hit the home stretch of their current 12-game spring break swing, the Trinity International Trojans put on their best display at the plate so far this season, cranking 18 hits en route to a 13-7 win over the Cairn (Pa.) Highlanders.
The performance marks the most hits recorded by TIU in a single game in over a year, since the Trojans knocked 22 base hits in a 21-4 win over Rivier (N.H.) on March 7 of last season.
The Trojans (2-8) struck early with a pair of first-inning runs, as shortstop Jeff Lindberg led the game off with a single. SeniorRafael Mendez drove in Lindberg two plays later with a single of his own, then scored himself on a sacrifice fly from A.J. Bruner.
Tony Guidone picked up an RBI in the second inning, when his single scored Scott Krawiec. The junior then scored when he stole home on a double-steal, giving TIU the 4-0 lead. Guidone finished the day with six stolen bases altogether, and seven on the year, tying him for the team lead. Krawiec, the co-leader along with Guidone, swiped a pair of bases himself against the Highlanders.
Cairn (2-7) tied the game with a second-inning rally, scoring four runs on five hits. TIU responded with three runs in the top of the third, as Vignola and Krawiec picked up RBIs, and Krawiec later scored on a passed ball.
Trinity held off the Highlanders by tallying a pair of insurance runs in the fourth and fifth, highlighted by Vignola's leadoff triple in the fifth. Cairn put up a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to keep things close, as TIU held onto a 9-7 lead with three innings to play.
The Trojans pulled away in the late innings, scoring insurance runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Freshman Adam Gomskipicked up the win on the mound, pitching five innings while allowing five earned runs and striking out three. The Trinity International bullpen shut the door, as Ben Hylander and Dakota Pisarek combined for just one hit over the final four innings.
The Trojans will now wrap up their spring break trip with a double-header meeting with Trinity Christian. The non-conference matchup is set for a 9:00 a.m. Central (10:00 a.m. Eastern) start.
