OLIVET, Mich. - The Trine University baseball team took advantage of the sloppy field conditions as they took their third sweep of the conference season over Olivet 4-2 and 6-4. The Thunder are now 15-12 on the season and 11-7 in the MIAA. With the sweep, Trine moves into sole possession of third place in the conference.

Trine got on the board first in game one as they plated runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings before the Comets plated their first runs. In the third, freshman Carter Stafford (Waterloo, Ind./DeKalb) singled with one out. After advancing to third on a two-base error on a failed pickoff attempt, Stafford would score on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by sophomore Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb).

Sophomore Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) would get things in the fourth for the Thunder with a leadoff double. Two outs later, Baer would score on an RBI single by sophomore R.J. Flowers (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton).

In the fifth it would be junior Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst) leading things off with a single. Sullivan would come around to score after consecutive passed balls and a throwing error by the Olivet pitcher. One out later, Prebynski would single and senior Tom Wilder (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield) would be hit by a pitch. With two outs, Prebynski would steal third and then score on a wild pitch.

Olivet would get their only runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth as they started the inning with four straight hits.

Senior Kale Popp (Rensselaer, Ind./Kankakee Valley) picked up his fourth win of the season as he lasted 6 1/3 innings allowing both runs on six hits and striking out a batter. Fellow senior Nick Cocanower (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) came on to earn his seventh save of the season as he pitched the final 2/3 innings allowing a hit.

Olivet would jump out to the early lead in game two as they scored a run in the bottom of the first on a leadoff walk and a Trine error.

In the fourth, it would be Baer again leading off the inning with a double. After a sacrifice bunt, Baer would score on an RBI groundout to the second basemen by Flowers.

The Comets would retake the lead in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff single, Olivet scored the run after a Trine error was followed by a single.

In the top of the fifth Trine would tie the game again as senior Matt Zurbriggen (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) would lead off the inning with a walk and then was sacrificed over to second. Zurbriggen would advance to third on a wild pitch and then score on a groundout by Stafford.

The Thunder would take the lead for good in the sixth as they plated a pair of runs. With one out, once again it would be Baer delivering for the Thunder with a double. Junior Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) would follow with a single. Flowers would drive in Baer on an RBI groundout. Freshman Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon) then drew a two-out walk. Then, Shackle would steal second, and as the Comets tried to retire him, DeGood broke for home and scored.

In the seventh, the Thunder would score what would be the game-winner. With one out in the inning, Stafford was hit by a pitch and stole second. Trine would then get back-to-back singles by Prebynski and Wilder to score a run. Prebynski then scored on a groundout to the pitcher by Baer.

The Comets would try to make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh as they got a walk, a bunt single and another walk to start the inning. Cocanower would induce a 6-4-3 double play ball, but Olivet would plate a run. The Comets would then get an RBI double to pull within two. Cocanower would retire the next Olivet batter to end the game and give the Thunder the sweep.

Senior Phil Stakely (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) remained perfect on the year with his fourth win as he went six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on just three hits while striking out two. Cocanower came on in the final inning and allowed a run on two hits.

Six different players had multiple hits on the afternoon for the Thunder. The trio of Baer, Sullivan and Prebynski all collected three hits while Flowers, Stafford and Wilder each had a pair of hits. All three of Baer's hits were doubles. Flowers was the only Thunder player to have multiple RBIs on the day as he drove in three. Baer led the team with three runs scored while Stafford and Prebynski each scored twice.

As a team, Trine stole five bases on the afternoon.

Trine will get right back out on the diamond as they travel to Purdue North Central for a doubleheader on April 21 beginning at noon (cst.).