WILMORE, Kent. --- The Trojan baseball team returned to the diamond late Tuesday afternoon as they took on the Asbury College Eagles. TIU entered Tuesday's single game after taking three of four from Johnson University (DH) over the weekend, and looked to continue their momentum during their spring break trip to the south.

Facing Asbury for the second time this season, Trinity struggled to hit off the Eagles' stellar pitching staff. Asbury meanwhile got off to a strong start in the second inning, scoring four runs of TIU starter Austin Salemi, but the Trojans would respond in the top of the third with four runs of their own from Christian Mackenzie, Luis Henriquez, Blake Lazaris and Matt Pierson. Pierson would provide the biggest hit of the game with a three-run double, setting up an RBI  from Matt Pierson to get back a few. Matt Pierson would be batted in by Jalen Austin RBI single to center field to tie the game.

Unfortunately the Eagles rallied with three runs in the bottom of the third, capitalizing off of Trinity errors on the infield and a solid nine hit day. Asbury would tack on another run in the fifth, plus three more in both the sixth and eighth innings to hand the Trojans the difficult 14-4 loss.

ADDITIONAL SERIES NOTES

• With today's loss, TIU falls to 0-2 all-time against Asbury. The two team's other meeting came one month ago when the Eagles rolled past the Trojans 18-0 at the Score International Christian Invitational in Hoover, Alabama on Feb. 6.

• Tuesday's loss drops TIU to 4-4 on the young season, marking back-to-back seasons of the Trojans splitting their first eight games.

• After appearing twice earlier this season in a relief roll, Austin Salemi falls to 0-1 this season in his first collegiate start.

• Trinity committed four errors in the loss, three coming from on the infield.

• TIU's four hits in Tuesday's loss are the second fewest in a game this season. The Trojans only earned two hits in their previous matchup with Asbury on Feb. 6.

• The Trojan pitching staff combined for 13 total bases on balls in the loss.

• With his third inning double, Matt Pierson picked up his 142nd career hit, surpassing Matt Lattimer (2017-20) for ninth most in program history.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (4-4) will return to action on Thursday afternoon as they travel to Pippas Passes, Kentucky to wrap up their 2021 "Southern Invasion" spring break trip with a pair of doubleheaders at Alice Lloyd College. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 1:00pm ET with game two to follow. Friday's game time is set for 4:00pm ET.

Visit TIUtrojans.com to stay up to date with the latest TIU baseball news and schedule updates.

Follow the Trojans online and on social media!

   Facebook - Trinity International Athletics

   Twitter - @TIUBaseball   @TIUTrojans

   Instagram - TIU Athletics    @tiubaseball

   Snapchat - @TIUtrojans

   YouTube - TIU Athletics

Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.