BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — Yesterday afternoon the Trojans took to the TIU Baseball Field for the first time in nearly two years as they hosted non-conference opponent, Maranatha Baptist in a pair of seven inning duels. After a dominant first game, the Trojan offense simmered down in the second but regardless walked away with the doubleheader sweep over the visiting Sabercats.

Game One: TIU 15, MBU 2
Starting off hot, the first four Trojans to bat recorded a base hit with Jonathan Kumai bringing in the first run of the game. Riley Murphy followed suit with another RBI to give TIU a two run advantage at the end of the first inning.

Ethan Oskroba got the start on the mound for TIU and sent two of four batters back to the dugout on his precision alone in the second. Blake Lazaris took his second turn at the plate for an RBI single to add one more to the Trojans tally.

On his way to dealing a complete game, Oskroba held the Sabercats to three batters in the third and fourth innings while Trinity collected six hits and three additional runs in the home halves. 

Entering the bottom of the sixth, the Trojans led 7-2. With bases loaded, TIU all-time leading hitter Blake Lazaris stepped up to the plate and smashed a home run over the left field fence for a crowd-raising, bench-clearing grand slam. Trinity tucked one more away after Oskroba doubled to convincingly claim victory over the Sabercats.

Locking up his first complete game win of the season, Ethan Oskroba struck out four batters and allowed just two runs on six hits while recording a season-high three hits from the box himself. Other Trojan standouts include veteran Blake Lazaris with a season-high 5 RBI aided by his second home run of the season. Center fielder Brady Popovich recorded three hits and 2 RBI, while Christian Soria-Navarro had a season best two runs scored.

Game Two: TIU 3, MBU 0
After the excitement of the first home game waned, the Trojan offense cooled down as well. Trinity scored the first run in the bottom of the second, converting after Alfonso Gomez took his base from the pitcher then stole two more. The Sabercat defense posted a fight, grounding out freshman Luke Zelig but not without earning the shortstop an RBI and the Trojans a lead.

Trinity added one more in the bottom of the third inning after Lazaris tripled to right field then crossed home plate on the following ground out.

Both sides solidified their defensive efforts, while trying to create offensive momentum. The Trojans broke through again in the bottom of the fifth with lead-off batter Julius Torres cracking a single to left center, then using his speed to steal second. A wild pitch pushed Torres on more before Lazaris recorded another triple to score what would be the final Trojan run.

Sophomore Joseph Placencia took the mound for the Trojans in game two, going the distance with three strikeouts, one hit and zero runs. Multiple Trojans earned season-highs as they locked in their 14th victory of the season. Elisa Marquez recorded four putouts, while Addison Hickman bagged two stolen bases. Zelig provided three assists and Jackson Schutzenhofer collected two hits and a stolen base. Blake Lazaris' pair of triples tied the TIU single game overall record, while breaking the record for triples at 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.