Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 PEWAUKEE, Wisc. -- Despite holding early leads in both ends of a doubleheader against the Cardinal Stritch Wolves, a pair of late rallies handed the Trinity International Trojans a pair of losses in dramatic fashion, falling 5-4 and 3-2, with both runs crossing the plate in the bottom of the final inning.
The Trojans (7-19, 3-10 CCAC) had one of their strongest days at the plate, with 19 hits on the day, the highest total in a doubleheader this season for TIU. Seven different players record a multi-hit game between the two matchups, with Ryan Helmeid and Scott Krawiec cranking out three hits apiece in the first and second games, respectively.
Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2 | Season Stats
In a scheduled seven-inning affair, the Trojans and Wolves needed nine frames to decide a winner in game one. After the Wolves (9-17, 4-11 CCAC) put up a pair of runs in the first inning, Jeff Lindberg got the Trojans on the board with an RBI single, driving in Helmeid for a second-inning run.
TIU then took the lead in the top of the fourth, when Helmeid picked up his second single of the day, followed by a Jon Grotelueschen walk. The junior then scored on the next play, when Tony Guidone reached base on a bunt, and the Stritch pitcher threw the ball away, allowing Helmeid to tie the game. Grotelueschen then scored on a double steal, as Guidone was caught stealing second.
Cardinal Stritch tied the game again in the bottom of the sixth, but the Trojans had a response in the seventh. Guidone collected his second hit of the day with a leadoff single, and was later driven home on a Rafael Mendez RBI single. TIU was unable to finish off the game, as a sacrifice fly for CSU sent the first game into extras.
After both sides left runners in scoring position in the eighth, the Wolves picked up the winning run following a leadoff single from CSU's Josh Sidley, who then scored on an RBI single three plays later.
Game two started out as a bit of a pitchers' duel, as freshman Jeremiah Carter gave up just a pair of hits over the first three frames of the seven-inning matchup. The Trojans held a brief two-run lead, thanks to an RBI single from Ian Gilliam and a sacrifice fly from Evan Athanasiou, but Cardinal Stritch responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
With another stalemate in the closing moments, Sidley helped push the Wolves by reaching base from the leadoff spot again, this time by drawing a walk in the seventh. A stolen base put Sidley in scoring position, and he finished out the game by scoring on a Trojan fielding error.
Although he suffered the loss in game two, Carter put up a solid performance, scattering five hits and allowing just a pair of earned runs. A.J. Bruner also pitched well in the opener, throwing seven innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits. Bruner also had hit hitting streak snapped at a team-high nine games after going hitless in the second game.
Trinity International tenetively returns home on Thursday, as a doubleheader with Olivet Nazarene is set for 1:30 p.m. at the TIU Baseball Field. stay tuned to TIUTrojans.com for any potential updates or changes due to the weather.
