PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trinity baseball increased their lead atop the CCAC standings on Monday afternoon, as the Trolls swept a doubleheader over Trinity International, to take all three matchups in the three games series. After a 9-7 win in game one, Trinity rallied late for a 8-3 victory in ten innings for game two.

Jordan Veldman led the Trolls (16-14, 10-2 CCAC) at the plate in the opener, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a pair of RBI. Trinity started strong, collecting three runs on three hits in the top of the 1st, highlighted by run-scoring singles from Nick Andersen and Anthony Cappelletti. Trinity International (11-17, 1-10 CCAC) responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring twice to cut the Trolls' lead to 3-2.

Tommy Schaaf hit a two-out RBI double in the 4th, pushing the lead back to 4-2, but the Trojans would tie the game in the bottom of the 4th, collecting two runs on four hits to even the score at 4-4. Brian Huttner's pinch-hit RBI single put Trinity back on top in the top of the 5th, and the Trolls would take a 7-4 lead after Michael Moralez' RBI base hit in the top of the 6th.

Trinity International would score two more in the bottom of the 6th, before Veldman's one-out double in the 7th would score Oliver Carmody and Schaaf. The Trojans would get one back on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th, but Logan Stutz would earn his first save of the year to secure the win.

A pitcher's duel in game two saw just one hit each for both teams through four and a half innings. In the bottom of the 5th Trinity International broke through with a leadoff double, and another extra-base hit with two outs to score the first run of the game.

The Trolls would be held off the scoreboard until the 9th inning, when a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles would load the bases for Hunter Slaats. Slaats would be hit by a pitch to tie the game, but a double play ended the threat and the Trolls were unable to take the lead.

The home team finally broke through in the 10th, collecting seven runs on four hits, including a pair of two-run doubles from Slaats and Angel Toscana. Trinity International would get a couple of runs back in the bottom of the 9th but the Trolls comfortably closed out the series with the win.

Jacob Hutcherson picked up the win, throwing seven innings of relief with one earned run allowed. Anderson, Moralez, and Toscana all had multi-hit performances, while Slaats' registered three RBI in the win.

The Trolls will now prepare for a three-game set with Indiana South Bend, beginning on Friday. Trinity will open the series in South Bend before returning to Schaaf Athletic Complex for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.