Palos Heights, Ill. - A 55 degree day in early March was exactly what the doctor ordered. After having two home games cancelled last week because of weather, Trinity Christian College baseball (2-2, 0-0 CCAC) earned their first two wins of the season over Grace Christian College (0-9). In game one, the Trolls took advantage of Grace miscues and scored 20 runs on the way to a 20-5 win. In the second game, the Trolls earned a 10-1 victory behind junior Hunter Slaats. He threw six innings allowing one run for his first collegiate win. 

Offensively, junior Mike Moralez didn't record an out in either game. He went 6-for-6 with six RBIs and seven runs scored, including a home run in game two.

Hunter Slaats discusses his great day on the mound.

In game one of the day, sophomore Jacob Hutcherson got the start on the mound and went five solid innings. He allowed four runs and struck out five to get his first win of the season. The offense supported him in a big way. The Trolls scored runs in every inning, including a five run third frame. Senior Nick Andersen hit the first home run of the season for the Trolls with a blast to left field. His two run shot extended the lead to 5-2 in the third inning. 

In the fourth inning, Moralez extended the Trolls lead on an RBI single. Moralez went 4-for-4 with four RBIs in the first game. He also scored three runs. With Trinity leading 15-4 in the sixth inning, junior Brett Karrels drove in two more runs with a double. Trinity had only 10 hits in the first game but had eight stolen bases and took advantage of passed balls and wild pitches. 

Junior Matt Ostrowski pitched a scoreless inning in the sixth before allowing one run in the seventh and the Trolls dominated, 20-5, for a game one victory.

In the second game, the Trinity offense was fueled by the long ball. Moralez hit the first of game number two with a solo shot to centerfield. In the second inning, sophomore Miles Williams yanked one down the left field line for another solo home run. Trinity led 2-0.

Andersen doubled home Moralez in the third to make it 3-0 Trolls. Later in the inning a sacrifice fly from senior Nico Gutierrez made it 4-0 Trolls. 

Grace Christian scored their only run of the second game on a single in the fourth and the Trolls answered with two runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth. In that sixth inning, junior Brock Bolser hit a three run home run to make it 10-1 Trolls. Bolser produced half of the Trolls RBIs in the second game with five.

Slaats made his first collegiate starts and allowed just one run over six innings. He struck out seven. 

NOTES & NUMBERS:

• Junior Jordan Veldman was an on-base machine. He walked three times in the first game and batted leadoff in both games.
• Moralez home run was the seventh of his career. 
• Slaats was great on the mound in game two, but in game one he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. 
• Andersen went 4-for-8 with three RBIs between the two games.
• Junior Josh Bakke pitched a scoreless seventh inning in game two.

UP NEXT: The Trolls will prepare for a four game series at Schaaf with William Penn University (7-3). The Trolls will play a doubleheader on both Friday, March 4th and Saturday March 5th against the Statesmen. First pitch on Friday will be at 12:00 p.m. CST.