Grotelueschen collects three hits, but Trojans fall to St. Xavier
The junior second baseman reaches base in all four plate appearances, but the Cougars put up eight runs in the final three innings to knock off the Trojans, 12-2.
Box Score CHICAGO, Ill. -- With an early lead in the second and third innings, the Trinity International Trojans suffered 11 unanswered runs, as TIU dropped the first of a three-game series to the St. Xavier Cougars on Friday afternoon. The Trojans collected eight hits over the seven-inning affair, but left 11 men on base in the loss.
Junior second baseman Andrew Grotelueschen had the best day at the plate for TIU, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the third inning. Grotelueschen also reached base in his fourth plate appearance of the day, when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh.
The Trojans (4-13, 1-4 CCAC) took an early lead in the second inning, after Ryan Helmeid reached base on a fielder's choice. The junior picked up his fifth stolen base of the season, then scored on an SXU fielding error. The Cougars (9-15, 4-2 CCAC) answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, with a chance to add more, but left the bases loaded as the Trojans escaped the big inning.
Adam Vignola put TIU back in front in the top of the third, after reaching base after being hit by a pitch with two outs in the inning. Grotelueschen drove Vignola in with his double down the right field line to put the Trojans ahead 2-1.
The Cougars rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third, to claim a 4-2 edge. SXU then put the game away with two more runs in the fifth, and followed by a five-run outburst in the sixth.
Trinity will continue the series with St. Xavier on their home field, with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch at the TIU Baseball Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
