DEERFIELD, Ill. - Taking on the top team in the CCAC entering play on Tuesday, Trinity International came away with a pair of one-run victories, sweeping a home doubleheader over St. Francis with a 1-0 shutout victory in game one, and a 6-5 win in game two.

Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2 | Season Stats

The Trojans (14-23, 5-14 CCAC) posted only one base hit in the first game of the day, as USF's Kevin Mampe retired 12 straight hitters to close out the game, but a first-inning run held up for Trinity. Taking advantage of two walks, Matt Pierson's two-out single drove home Jeff Lindberg for the early 1-0 lead.

Freshman Mitchell Apple made the lead hold up over the next six innings, throwing a complete game while scattering six hits and a walk for his first collegiate win. The Trojan defense played a big part in the shutout, rolling up double plays in the 1st and 3rd innings, and not committing an error throughout the game.

In game two, St. Francis struck early, posting three runs on four hits in the top of the 1st inning, thanks in part to back-to-back two-out doubles. The Saints (29-16, 14-5 CCAC) tacked on another run in the 2nd inning to go ahead 4-0. 

Sophomore first baseman Michael Balistreri put the Trojans on the board in the bottom of the 4th, leading off the inning with his fourth home run of the year and cutting into the deficit, 4-1.

Trinity took the lead in the next inning, as a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out for Pierson. His RBI single drove in Lindberg, and a two-RBI single from Justin VanderNaald tied the game at 4-4. Pierson then scored on Joel Stephenson's groundout to take the lead, and Matt Latimer's base hit scored VanderNaald to put the Trojans ahead by two, 6-4.

Ethan Jarvis kept the Trinity lead intact, pitching three and two-thirds innings of relief and allowing just two hits with a run. A sacrifice fly for the Saints made it a one-run game, but Skyler Jankowski would come in for the final out, recording his first career save.

Pierson, Balistreri, and VanderNaald all finished with two hits apiece on the day, while Pierson and VanderNaald each led the team with two RBI. Chris Isaac earned his team-leading fifth win of the season in game two, throwing five innings with four runs allowed.

The Trojans look to keep the momentum rolling on Friday, when they start a three-game series with CCAC North Division leaders Judson. First pitch from the TIU Baseball Field is set for 3:00 p.m.