Trinity International University

Trojans close out season with losses to Trinity Christian

5/2/2014 11:57:00 AM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Season Stats

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WHEATON, Ill. -- After waiting through a rainout and a change of venue, the Trinity International Trojans finished off the 2014 season with a pair of seven-inning losses to the Trinity Christian Trolls on Thursday night. A late TCC rally in the opening game gave the Trojans a 5-1 loss, before five fielding errors in the nightcap lead to five unearned runs as TIU fell 10-3.

Trinity Christian struck first in the opener, as back-to-back extra-base hits put the Trolls on the board in the top of the third. TIU ended the threat of a bigger rally when Jeff Lindberg and Andrew Grotelueschen rolled up a double play to end the inning.

The Trojans (11-29, 7-20 CCAC) answered in the bottom of the inning, when Lindberg knocked a two-out single to keep the inning alive. Cameron Stanley then drove in the freshman shortstop with a triple to tie the game at 1-1. Trinity International's offense went cold the rest of the way, however, with just four more hitters reaching base, and none of them advancing into scoring position.

TCC (25-18, 17-10 CCAC) reclaimed the lead in the next inning, as the leadoff hitter reached base on a Trojan throwing error. After a double on the next play advanced TCC's Brad Kopale to third, a fielder's choice allowed Kopale to score, giving the Trolls a 2-1 edge in the top of the fourth. Trinity Christian then put the game away with a three-run seventh inning, highlighted by a leadoff double that started the rally.

Stanley had the team's strongest game at the plate, collecting two of TIU's five hits in the first contest, including his RBI triple in the third.

In the second game, Trinity Christian scored in each of the first four innings to take a 9-0 lead that included four unearned runs. The Trojans struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the deficit; Ryan Helmeid and Tony Guidone led the inning off with back-to-back singles, before Lindberg loaded the bases with a walk. Stanley then hit a two-RBI single, giving him three RBI on the day. Lindberg later scored, when Stanley got into a rundown, buying enough time for Lindberg to cross the plate before the third out was made.

The Trolls tacked another run on in the sixth, with an unearned run scoring on a two-out error to make it a 10-3 game.

Trinity International finishes the season with an 11-29 record, surpassing last season's win total by three games. The team also improved their record within CCAC play by two games. 

With the end of the season, three Trojan seniors also wrapped up their careers on Thursday; infielder Jordan Germosen, outfielder Tony Guidone, and catcher Rafael Mendez.