Trinity International University

TIU Baseball opens weekend series with loss to Roosevelt

4/18/2014 9:55:00 PM

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DEERFIELD, Ill. --In the midst of a run of 11 games in just over a week, the Trinity International Trojans struggled in the field, allowing 16 hits in the first of three games with the Roosevelt Lakers, falling 14-3 in seven innings. TIU allowed a pair of five-run rallies, in the fifth and the seventh, as the Lakers opened the series with a road win.

The Trojans (8-21, 4-12 CCAC) started off on the wrong foot, as Roosevelt collected singles in the first two at-bats of the game, both of which came around to score and give the Lakers a 2-0 edge in the opening frame. The Trinity offense would respond right away, as Jeff Lindberg and Cameron Stanley led the bottom half of the inning off with a pair of singles themselves. A.J. Bruner and Ryan Helmeid drove in an RBI each with back-to-back singles, quickly tying the score at 2-2.

The offense would then go quiet through the middle portions of the game, as the Trojans posted just one hit over the next four innings. The Lakers (8-24, 3-13 CCAC) reached base with their first two runners in the third inning, leading to a 2-RBI double from RU's A.J. Neufeld, giving the Lakers a 4-2 lead. TIU would fall behind further in the fifth, as the pitching staff allowed five runs on six hits, including three doubles in the inning.

TIU briefly cut into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth, when Bruner cranked a double to left center, and was then driven home with an Andrew Grotelueschen single. Bruner finished the day with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, including an RBI and a run scored.

The Lakers put the game away with another five-run outburst in the seventh, claiming the win by run rule after the Trojans failed to score in the bottom half of the frame.

Lindberg, hitting from the leadoff spot, extended his hitting streak to 11 games with his first-inning single. The freshman currently holds a team-high .324 batting average, as one of three Trojans hitting above the .300 mark.

Trinity International finishes out the series with a doubleheader at Roosevelt on Saturday afternoon. First pitch in Crestwood, Ill., is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Standard Bank Stadium.