BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — For their latest CCAC series, the Trojans squared off with the Fighting Saints of the University of St. Francis. After the shifty weather and miscommunications with officials changed game times, days and locations, the opponents ultimately played one game on Friday afternoon in Joliet and one in Deerfield earlier this afternoon. The third game will be rescheduled due to a lightning delay prolonging today's initial game.

Game One: TIU 1, USF 19
Trinity fell behind quickly as the Fighting Saints recorded a pair of home runs in the first inning, closing the frame with a five run advantage. The home team collected seven more in the following inning as the Trojans struggled to catch a groove on defense.

Christian Soria-Navarro notched a double to left center to jumpstart the Trojan offense in the bottom of the second, but fell short as the Saint's defense cleaned up. The next go around, TIU scored their lone run of the game as Julius Torres led off with a single up the middle of the field before bagging second. Veteran Blake Lazaris added another double to his resume, sending Torres around the bases before USF retired the following three batters in order.

The Fighting Saints would add six more to the scoreboard before the seventh inning while holding Trinity at arm's length, never permitting more than five batters per frame.

Trinity turned two double plays, a season high for the Trojans, despite an otherwise difficult game.

Game Two: TIU 9, USF 13
Blake Lazaris collected his 17th career home run and third of the season in his first plate appearance of the day, sending the ball sailing over the fence. Despite the excitement of a big hit and early lead, the Trojans defense faltered as they gave up 11 runs in the second and third inning.

With a tall mountain to climb, Trinity began chipping away at the deficit with three hits and a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jonathan Kumai, Riley Murphy and Brady Popovich each recorded a single in the frame.

As the Trojans gained traction defensively, allowing just four plate appearances for the visitors, their offense sparked in the home half of the fifth. Murphy stepped up with bases loaded, collecting a base hit and 2 RBI. Designated hitter Ethan Oskroba hit a sac fly to bring another run in before a lapse in pitching walked two runners home. At the innings end, TIU trailed by just two runs.

In the early moments of the top of the sixth inning the Fighting Saints scored one more before a nearby storm forced a lightning delay. Upon resuming the game, the Trojans changed out their pitching staff as Seth Lewallen took the mound. St. Francis scored another run before the fresh hurler threw a strikeout to close the inning.

The Saints defense stood tall in the final two innings, retiring the Trojans in short order to secure their victory.


The Trojans(15-22) are back at home next week as they host the Sabercats of Maranatha Baptist in another non-conference doubleheader. Due to forecasted weather, the game has been relocated to Heritage Sports Park in Wheeling with opening pitch slated for 11:00am.



   

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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.