ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine baseball team was swept by Calvin in an MIAA-doubleheader Monday afternoon at Jannen Field.
A big fifth-inning led the Knights to an 8-7 victory in game one, which they followed up with a 7-2 victory in game two to earn the sweep. Grant VanPutten notched five hits and drove in three runs to pace Calvin offensively. The Knights totaled seven extra-base hits in the doubleheader. Jake Kendall (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) picked up three hits and drove in three runs for the Thunder. Trine fell to 14-22 overall and 9-15 in the MIAA. The Thunder trail Hope for the fourth spot in the MIAA Tournament by three games with four game remaining on the schedule. Calvin improved to 19-15 overall and 14-8 in conference play.
Game One: Calvin 8, Trine 7
The Thunder took a three-run lead in the early innings, but a six-run Knight fifth erased the Trine advantage and led to the Calvin victory.
The two teams traded single runs in the second inning. The Knights got their run on a sac fly by Nate DeZwaan, while Trine got on the board with a sac fly by Jake LaBounty (Avon, Ind./Covenant Christian). The Knights would take a 2-1 lead in the third on an RBI-double by VanPutten.
A Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) walk and a bunt single for Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) set the table for a big third for the Thunder. Drew Palmer (Hartford, Wisc./Hartford Union) then split the right-center gap with a line-drive triple to plate both runners and give Trine a 3-2 lead.
Palmer then danced around a tag at the plate to score on Kendall's fielder's choice. Kendall would later score on an error to give the Thunder a 5-2 lead.
Calvin's big fifth inning began with back-to-back RBI-singles by VanPutten and Jordan VanderWall. An RBI-double by Peter Cupery tied the score, before a Colton Wolfe RBI-single gave the Knights the lead. DeZwaan plated two more insurance runs that would prove big later to make the score 8-5.
Trine rallied in the sixth, as Shackle singled through the right side to plate two runs and cut the score to 8-7. The Thunder had the tying run on third base with one out, but were unable to push across the run.
Kyle Wasserberger closed out Trine in order in the seventh to get the save.
Game Two: Calvin 7, Trine 2
A four-run fourth helped pace the Knights to the game two victory and four-game sweep.
VanderWall and Cupery each knocked in runs with singles, and Calvin added a pair of runs on an error to take a four-run lead.
Two RBI-singles by Kendall brought the Thunder back within 4-2, but the Knights had the answer with a two-run sixth. VanPutten picked up another big hit with an RBI-double.
Cupery added a solo homer in the seventh for the final margin.
Matt Wieringa picked up the victory with five innings of work.
Trine will host Kalamazoo this Friday, May 1 on senior day. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.