HOLLAND, Mich. - It was another split for the Trine University baseball team as they went dutch with Hope College winning game one 3-1 before falling 1-0 in the nightcap. The Thunder are now 14-14 on the season and 8-8 in the MIAA.
The Flying Dutchmen jumped out to the early lead in the bottom of the first after a Trine error started the inning. Hope would get back-to-back singles to score a run. The Thunder would turn a double play to end the threat.
Trine would answer back in the second as junior Tom Wilder (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) led off the inning with a single. Wilder would then steal second before senior Craig Rinkes (Medina, Ohio/Medina) would be hit by the pitch. Sophomore Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) would step in a lay down the sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Senior Brian Hoeper (Angola, Ind./Angola) would then deliver a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Wilder to score from third.
Trine would score what would be the game winning run in the third, as senior Josh Rivera (Somonauk, Ill./Somonauk) led off the inning with a single. Then, with one out, fellow senior Ryan Smith (Danville, Ind./Danville) would double, scoring Rivera from second.
The Thunder would tack on an insurance run in the fifth with one out. Sophomore Ben Witter (Naples, Fla./Golden Gate) reached base on a walk, and then advanced to second a wild pitch on ball four. Smith would deliver again for the Thunder with a single to score Witter.
Smith had a stellar performance at the plate going 4-4 with two RBI in the opener. Wilder collected two hits going 2-3 with a run scored.
Junior Jake Rightnowar (Oregon, Ohio/Toledo Christian) had an outstanding game on the mound going 5 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits on two strikeouts while giving up one unearned run. Freshman Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) came on to pitch 1/3 an inning of relief walking one and striking out another. Sophomore Jeremy Spaulding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic) came on in the seventh to shut down the Flying Dutchmen, not allowing a base runner to earn his conference leading fifth save.
Game two was a different story for the Thunder as they were held hitless until Baer singled with two outs in the top of the seventh. Trine's only other base runner came on a walk to Rinkes in the fifth inning.
The lone run of the game came in the fifth inning for Hope. A leadoff single was followed by a sacrifice and another single to plate the only run for either side.
Freshman Braxton Siddons (Churubusco, Ind./Churubusco) pitch a solid game despite suffering the loss, lasting 5 1/3 innings, scattering five hits while allowing the one earned run. Siddons stuck out four while walking one. Senior Phil Cappelletty (Tipton, Mich./Adrian) came on to pitch 1/3 of an inning, retiring the only batter he faced. Junior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on the finish the game allowing a hit and record the final out in the sixth.
Trine will take the week off before returning to action on April 21 as they host Olivet beginning at 2:00 p.m.