BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — Trinity was back out the diamond again this afternoon in back to back days of doubleheaders, this time resuming CCAC play as the Crimson Wave rode into campus. When all was said and done, the Trojans split with Calumet College of St. Joseph, falling in the first game but bouncing back with resolve to claim their third conference victory.

Game One: TIU 2, CCSJ 5
A slow start on defense to begin game one put the Trojans behind three runs in the first inning. A lapse in focus dialed in fast as their next turn on the field only yielded three batters for the Crimson Wave with hurler Max Amendt sending the foes packing on a strikeout.

Trinity grabbed one back in the home half after CCSJ's pitcher struggled early, walking Riley Murphy then later Brady Popovich. Freshman Elisa Marquez stepped to the plate with bases loaded and one out, earning the RBI but not her base.

Blake Lazaris led-off in the bottom of the third inning with a single past shortstop, before Jonathan Kumai sent one to the same spot but farther back. Designated hitter Ethan Oskroba unfortunately grounded into a double play, but advanced Lazaris who would go on to score the Trojans' second run after a base hit from Jimmy Cisneros.

With their offense starting to roll, the TIU defense began to falter. After a failed pickoff attempt led to an error, a balk from Amendt gave up another base and run as the Crimson Wave increased their lead to 2-4.

Calumet's defense stood firm, holding the Trojans to minimal batters in the fourth and fifth while capitalizing on another Trojan error to bring their total runs to five.

With one final chance, the Trojans sent pinch hitter Alfonso Gomez to the plate to stir up momentum but the Crimson Wave defense held out as the visitors retired the Trojans in short order.


Game Two: TIU 11, CCSJ 6
Brady Popovich took the mound for TIU in the second outing of the afternoon, sending the Crimson Wave back to sea as the Trojan defense stood resilient against six batters in the opening two innings. Julius Torres opened up the Trojan attack with a double through left center then a sacrifice fly from Riley Murphy later in the inning earned the RBI and early Trojan lead.

Trinity's offense began to spark in the third inning, scoring two runs off two hits. Torres recorded another hit, then bagged his first of five stolen bases on the day as he took second then third. Murphy doubled to left field, bringing in another run to give the Trojans a three run advantage.

The Trojans' defense showed signs of weakness in the bottom of the fifth inning as the pitch count grew. After consecutive walks, a base hit earned CCSJ their first runs of the day. The Crimson Wave collected another hit, putting a potential tying runner in scoring position before Seth Lewallen came in as relief for the sophomore hurler.

Not backing down easily, CCSJ fought back in the sixth with two runs following a passed ball and lone hit of the stanza before a pitching change for the Trojans put Michael Zelko on the mound to close the frame. Without an answer in the home half of the inning, the Crimson Wave continued to rise and scored two more runs to tie the ball game in the top of the seventh. Back to back doubles from Lazaris and Jonathan Kumai gave the Trojans the go ahead run entering the penultimate inning.

Catching fire, the Trojans blasted off in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs to ultimately put the game out of reach. Addison Hickman grabbed his second career double, while Torres collected his fourth hit of the day and Lazaris added a base hit. A firm defensive stop kept the Crimson Wave at bay, with Zelko allowing just six batters in the final two innings to secure the win.

Julius Torres had a team-leading four hits and five stolen bases in the game, while Addison Hickman recorded a double and five putouts.


The Trojans(15-20) will take a couple days off before continuing conference play on the road on Friday afternoon, traveling to Joliet to square off with the Fighting Saints for a single game. On Saturday afternoon, Trinity will return home to complete the series with the University of St. Francis with a doubleheader on TIU Baseball Field.


   

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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.