WHITING, Ind. — The Trojans traveled south yesterday afternoon for a single game against the Crimson Wave of Calumet College of St. Joseph to close out their series from earlier in the month. Despite taking a hefty lead early in the game, Trinity fell to CCSJ after the home team forced extra innings then scored the go-ahead run.

A combination of offensive power and defensive error gave the Trojans a seven run lead in the opening half inning. The Crimson Wave got off to a rough start, hitting TIU lead off batter Julius Torres with the pitch before walking Jonathan Kumai. With two runners on base, Blake Lazaris and Ethan Oskroba hit back to back singles through the middle of the park to initiate scoring for Trinity. After cycling through the entire batting order, the Trojans were eventually retired while leaving two on base. In response, Calumet scored three runs to cut Trinity's lead to nearly half in the bottom of the inning.

Trinity added three more runs throughout the second and third innings, collecting a total of six hits and extending their lead to 10-3.

Trouble came in the fourth and fifth innings as the Crimson Wave locked up their defense, holding TIU to three batters each inning, while combining for six runs to cut the score deficit to a single run. After the seventh inning, the score equalized at 10-10.

The Trojans scored two in the top of the eighth to retake the lead, benefiting from another defensive error and grabbing a base hit, but Calumet took back one after a triple to right center set up a scoring opportunity. Michael Zelko, the Trojan hurler, stopped any further offensive effort as he caught the batter looking for a strikeout to end the inning with Trinity's lead still intact.

A solid start to the ninth inning, the first two Trojan batters reached first on defensive miscues before Kumai hit a bunt single to load the bases. The Crimson Wave hurler went to work, striking out the next two of three Trojans while his defense stood firm with the final ground out, leaving three on base for the Trojans.

Calumet opened the bottom of the ninth with a home run to left field to force extra innings, and after their defense once again stood tall, collected the winning run in the bottom of the tenth.

Seth Lewallen took the start for Trinity, going for 3.2 innings and striking out five. Max Amendt, Michael Zelko and Jose Matos would also see time from the mound, with Matos ultimately taking the loss. For the second consecutive game, Julius Torres bagged two bases while also recording a double. 

The Trojans (17-28, 3-21) take the road for their final regular season game as they head to Iowa for a game with the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose University on Friday afternoon. They will return home on Saturday for the doubleheader and their senior day celebrations. Opening pitch is set for 1:00pm at TIU Baseball Field.