PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Behind a combined eight strikeouts from Josh Bakke and Jake Ostrowski, Trinity earned their first nine-inning shutout of the season, opening a three-game series with Trinity International on Thursday with a 9-0 victory at Schaaf Athletic Complex.

Ostrowski picked up the win to improve to 3-1 this season, striking out six over seven innings of relief. The Trolls (14-14, 8-2 CCAC) struck early, scoring five runs over the first three innings, starting with Michael Moralez's two-out, two-RBI single in the top of the 1st.

Trinity extended their lead with a 2nd-inning RBI single from Tommy Schaaf, then another two-run base hit from Moralez in the 3rd to give the Trolls a 5-0 advantage.

Taking advantage of six walks in the inning, Trinity added four more runs on just one hit in the bottom of the 6th. Trinity International (11-15, 1-8 CCAC) had their best chance to get on the board in the top of the 5th, with a pair of one-out singles, but Ostrowski would work around the trouble with a fly ball and strikeout to end the threat.

Nick Andersen led the Trolls at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored. Moralez finished 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Jordan Veldman reached base three times with a pair of base hits and a walk.

The Trolls and Trojans will wrap up the series on Monday, with a doubleheader scheduled to take place in at Schaaf beginning at 1:00 p.m.