DEERFIELD, Ill. – A five-run first inning proved to be the difference, as Trinity International fell in the CCAC opener on Friday to the St. Xavier Cougars, 11-6 at the TIU Baseball Field.

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The Trojans (10-8, 0-1 CCAC) cranked out 11 base hits, the second-highest total in a single game this season, with third baseman Adam Gomski's 4-hit day leading the charge. Trinity pulled the score to within a single run in the 3rd inning, after the Cougars (8-10, 1-0 CCAC) collected five runs on six hits in the top of the first.

Jeff Lindburg put TIU on the board with his one-out walk, later scoring on an RBI single from Colt Foerch. Jon Debowey and A.J. Bruner then drove in a combined three runs to make it a 5-4 ballgame, as the Trojans hit four straight singles during the rally.

St. Xavier responded in the top of the 4th however, getting those four runs bat in their next trip to the plate. A three-run home run from SXU's Ryan Pellack gave the Cougars a 9-4 advantage, the first long ball given up by the TIU pitching staff in the last nine games.

Lindberg scored again in the bottom of the 4th on Jon Grotelueschen's two-out infield single, pulling the Trojans to within four, 9-5.

The game suddenly turned into a pitching duel over the next four innings, with neither side putting more than two men aboard and no runs crossing the plate until the bottom of the 8th. The Trojans had a chance to get back into the game, as Lindberg drove home Michael Balistreri on a fielding error to edge closer, 9-6. TIU left two runners aboard and the tying run at the plate however, before adding to the rally. St. Xavier then added two more insurance runs in the top of the 9th with a pinch-hit home run down the right field line from Mike Owens.

The Trojans are back in action tomorrow afternoon, when they hit the road to wrap up the current three-game series with St. Xavier. First pitch from SXU is set for 1:00 p.m.