WHITING, Ind. --- The Trojan baseball team returned to the ballpark on Wednesday afternoon as they visited the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph at Oil City Stadium in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) game. After rallying for a one-run victory last night at Roosevelt, TIU looked to post consecutive conference wins for the first time this season.

The Trojans opened the game on a high note with three runs in the top of the first inning as Julius Torres and Blake Lazaris both crossed home plate on a pair of errors by the Crimson Wave infield. Matt Pierson would bring Samuel Edington home on an RBI single on the infield to give TIU an early 3-0 lead.

Noah Waltz would get the ball on the mound as Trinity's starting pitcher, but struggled allowing ten hits including a pair of CCSJ home runs in seven and one-third innings of work. Calumet would chip away at TIU's early lead and take a 4-3 lead after three innings.

Andrew Johnson would tie the game for Trinity with a solo home run in the top of the fourth, but the Crimson Wave would respond as Kevin McCune answered with a solo shot of his own to regain the lead for CCSJ. After Calumet scored two more runs in the fourth, Lazaris got his chance to go deep with a solo home run to pull TIU within two. Pierson would bring home another run for the Trojans in the seventh as he would be hit by a pitch, scoring Torres from third with the bases loaded.

While TIU chipped away at the Crimson Wave's lead, CCSJ delivered a tough blow with a grand slam by Zach Verta in the eighth inning. After CCSJ scored another run in the eighth, Luis Henriquez would provide Trinity with one last run, driving home Pierson on a single to left. Despite a strong hitting day, it wouldn't be enough as TIU dropped the game 14-6.

ADDITIONAL SERIES NOTES

• TIU falls to 12-17 all-time against Calumet St. Joseph with today's loss. 

• Both Trinity and CCSJ notched three extra base hits in Wednesday's game, including one double and two home runs. 

• Noah Waltz took the loss on the mound for the Trojans. His season record falls to 1-2.

• Andrew Johnson's fourth inning home run was the first of his collegiate career, and just the fourth extra base hit of his career.

• Blake Lazaris's home run in the fifth inning was his first of the season, and third of his career.

• Wednesday's game was the first multi-home run game of the season for TIU. It also was the fifth game this year the Trojans have hit at least one pitch over the fence.

• Despite a 1-4 day at the plate, Brendan Lacey recorded two stolen bases.

• Matt Pierson's two hits move him past Adam Gomski (2014-17) for the third most career hits in program history (154).

• Pierson's four plate appearances give him 451 for his career, passing Adam Vignola (2013-16) for fifth most in program history.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (8-11) are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 6 as they host the Lakers of Roosevelt University in a home doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm CST at the TIU Baseball Field and can be watched LIVE on the Trojan Sports Network.

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

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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.