Trinity International University

Trojans win another walkoff in split with Eagles

4/21/2014 6:59:00 PM

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DEERFIELD, Ill. --For the second time in the past five games, freshman shortstop Jeff Lindberg gave his team the victory in walkoff fashion, this time with his two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, as the Trinity International Trojans split a doubleheader Monday afternoon with the Robert Morris Eagles. The Trojans took the opener in a pitcher's duel, 1-0, before falling the second game of the day, 9-3.

The Trojans (10-23, 6-14 CCAC) were led by sophomore pitcher A.J. Bruner, who posted his second complete game of the season, and his first complete game shutout. The Evansville, Ind. native scattered five hits while walking three and collecting five strikeouts in the win.

The TIU offense was slow to get into a rhythm, working into the third inning before getting its first base hit. The Trojans had chances in the middle innings to build a lead over the Eagles (23-15, 11-9 CCAC) with runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but were unable to get on the board until the final frame.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ryan Helmeid started the rally with a one-out single through the left side. After moving to second on Jon Grotelueschen's base hit through the middle of the infield, Helmeid scored the winning run when Lindberg drove a line drive to center field to end the game.

Grotelueschen had the strongest performance at the plate for the Trojans in their win, going 3-for-3 with a double, collecting three of TIU's nine hits in the game. He kept the hot bat through the second game, and finished the day a combined 6-for-7 at the plate.

Robert Morris answered quickly in game two, with a three-run homerun down the left field line by RMU's Pat Driscoll. The Eagles then added another run in the second, and four more in the third to claim an 8-0 edge. Trinity's lone rally of the contest came in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Adam Gomski's two-out, 2-RBI double to left center, driving in Scott Krawiec and Andrew Grotelueschen. Jon Grotelueschen then added to his day with an RBI, driving home Gomski in the next at-bat. The Trojans would cut the lead to 9-3, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.

After a rough start, pitcher Daniel Wawrzyniak settled into a rhythm, giving up just one hit and three walks from the fourth through the seventh innings.

Ben Hylander and Nick Robinson both made appearances out of the bullpen in game two, as both relievers allowed two hits but didn't give up a run in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

The Trojans will head south this week, when they face Purdue-North Central in a mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday, April 23. First pitch against the Panthers in Westville, Ind., is scheduled for 1 p.m.