HENDERSON, Tenn. – Trinity will return to campus with a split in their four-game series with Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), as both sides shared wins in both doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday afternoons.
Game 1
Trinity 4, Freed-Hardeman 2
WP: Strutz (2-0) • LP: Johnson (2-2) • Sv: Munoz (3)
HR: Wright (1)
The Trolls came out strong, scoring two runs on three hits in the top of the 1st. Base hits from Casey Folkerts and Shane Jones set the table for Carter Chaney's RBI double, and Chaney would later score on an error to give Trinity the early 2-0 lead. Omar Wright made it a 3-0 game with a solo shot in the 4th inning, while starting pitcher Logan Strutz would be perfect through four innings before the home team broke through with a run in the bottom of the 5th.
Both sides would trade runs in the 6th inning, with Chaney singling and scoring for the second time. After a scoreless inning on the mound from Matthew Rangel, Ulysses Munoz worked around a pair of hits in the 7th to secure his third save of the year.
Game 2
Freed-Hardeman 7, Trinity 1
WP: Riley (3-0) • LP: Nielsen (0-2) • Sv: McLemore (1)
The home side would build up a 5-0 lead after scoring in each of the first three innings, before the Trolls got on the board in the top of the 4th. Hunter Mendoza would record a single while two more Trolls would reach base after being hit by pitches, allowing Zach Hesse to drive in Chaney on a fielder's choice. Both teams would post zeroes in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings, before the Lions tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the 8th. Folkerts led the Trolls from the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with a double at the plate.
Game 3
Trinity 7, Freed-Hardeman 3
WP: Hadley (1-0) • Lannom (1-3)
HR: Holleman (1) • Cappelletti (1)
Chase Hadley would record the Trolls' first complete game of the year, throwing all seven innings while striking out five. Freed-Hardeman took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the 2nd, before the Trolls rallied to even the score in the 4th. Chaney's leadoff single led to a stolen base, and a passed ball would put the sophomore at third for Hector Mendoza, who tied the game on an RBI groundout.
Trinity would break through in the 6th, scoring four runs on four hits and an error. Anthony Cappelletti would highlight the rally with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to make it a 5-1 game. The Lions would get two runs back in the bottom half of the frame, but a solo shot from Benson Holleman and an RBI double from Mendoza pushed the Trolls lead back to four, 7-3.
Game 4
Freed-Hardeman 11, Trinity 0 (7 inn.)
WP: Bennett (4-0) • LP: Toledo (0-1)
The host Lions would cruise in game four, scoring in each of the first five innings as the Trinity bats would go cold with just three base hits in the game. Cappelletti would reach base in all three plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a walk, including a double. Out of the bullpen, Mike Zelko would throw a clean 6th inning, working around one hit and striking out one.
The Trolls return to the Schaaf Athletic Complex next week, as they open CCAC play with a four-game set against Viterbo. First pitch for both doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8 is set for 1:00 p.m.
