HOOVER, ALA. --- Opening weekend finally arrived for TIU Baseball as they traveled to Hoover, Alabama to compete in two double-headers as part of the Score International Christian Invitational. The Trojans competed against Grace College of Indiana in back to back doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday afternoons, coming out of the weekend with a 1-3 record.
Game One:
In the opening game, freshman Michael Zelko was given the start to begin the season. The first inning was quiet as both teams got into the swing of things but in the bottom of the second the Lancers caught their stride and booked their first run after an error. The Lancers would add another nine in the second inning before Brady Popovich made the third out catching a fly ball.
In the top of the fourth inning Jose Matos hits a double, and after a ground hit by Seth Lewallen he scores Trinity's first run of the season. Keeping the hits coming in the fifth and sixth innings, the Lancers added 12 more runs to the score before taking game one of the doubleheader by a score of 22-1 in seven innings.
Game Two:
In game two the Trojans came out with a vengeance as both Luis Henriquez and Blake Lazaris hit ground ball singles to start the first inning. Riley Edington was third to bat and hit a double, bringing Henriquez home and advancing Lazaris to third base. With bases loaded, Brady Popovich stepped up to the plate and walked, pushing Lazaris home. Up to bat next, Ethan Oskroba hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field bringing Riley Edington home. Trinity finished the first inning ahead 3-0 and held the Lancers to a shut-out the remaining six innings.
Game Three:
Saturday the two teams took to the field again and Max Amendt started on the mound for five innings, permitting three hits and two runs while striking out five and giving up one walk. In the bottom of the second, the Lancers earned their first run on a passed ball.
After a short fourth inning with three at bats, Trinity took the field again and gave up another run on a passed ball. In the sixth inning, Jose Matos walked then stole both second and third on subsequent pitches. Seth Lewallen hit a line drive to center field for a double and Matos scored bringing the score to 3-1. Grace brought two more runs home after a couple of walks and a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and the game ended with Grace as the victor, 5-1.
Game Four:
The final game of the series saw four different Trojans at the mound as they struggled to maintain a solid defense. In the first two innings the Lancers scored 11 runs and the Trojans had a lot of work ahead of them.
Bottom of the second, the Trojans started to fight back as they scored two runs. Seth Lewallen got on base after a line drive to center field and afterwards both Brady Popovich and Juan Andres Valle Marquina walked. With bases loaded, Anthony Termini stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive to left field, bringing both Lewallen and Popovich across the plate.
In the remaining five innings, the Lancers scored six more runs and ended the game in the seventh inning, winning 17-2.
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Up Next:
The Trojans (1-3) will return to action next weekend as they travel to Knoxville, Tennessee for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday, February 11 and 12 against the Royals of Johnson University. Game one of both doubleheaders are scheduled for a 2:00pm EST start and live stats can be found on the Royals Athletics Website
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
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