BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Omar Wright would lead the Troll with six base hits on the day, but Trinity would come up short in a pair of shootouts as hosts Olivet Nazarene would take the doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
Olivet Nazarene 8, Trinity 6
WP: Shoven • LP: Noe (0-1) • Sv: Freitas
Trinity would open the scoring in the 2nd inning, as the first three batters would reach base starting with Shane Jones' infield single. A bases-loaded ground out would score Jones, and Benson Holleman's sac fly brought home Hector Mendoza for the early 2-0 lead.
The Tigers would tie the score in the bottom of the 2nd, but Trinity bounced back in the top of the 3rd. Wright's leadoff double would result in the senior later scoring on a wild pitch, and Jones would make it a 4-2 score by drawing a walk, stealing second, and scoring on a Tiger error. Trinity would add another crooked number in the 4th inning, with Wright's two-out RBI single that scored Bradley Johnson, and a double-steal that allowed Anthony Cappelletti to steal home for the 6-2 lead.
Olivet Nazarene rallied in the bottom of the 4th, scoring six runs on three hits and three walks. Trinity would put runners on base in the 5th and 6th, but were shut out over the final three frames.
Wright finished 3-for-4 with a run and RBI, along with the team's lone extra-base hit in the opening game.
Olivet Nazarene 17, Trinity 7 (8 inn.)
WP: Carrington • LP: Toledo (0-2)
The Trolls' bats got to work early again, as four of the first five hitters in the top of the 1st singled, starting with Taiki Kondo who would come around to score the first run of the game. Wright and Jones would also single and score in the 1st, for a 3-0 advantage.
Olivet would get one run back in the bottom of the 1st, but the Trolls came back with two more in the top of the 2nd, with RBI from Kondo and Wright. The Tigers had their largest rally of the day in the bottom half of the 2nd, rallying for seven runs to take an 8-5 lead.
Trinity tacked on two more runs in the 4th, on RBI singles from Wright and Jones, but were unable to even the score as Olivet Nazarene posted runs in four of the final five innings to pull away.
Wright and Jones each finished 3-for-4 in game two, each with two RBI and a run scored. Kondo would go 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
The Trolls return to the Schaaf Athletic Complex on Friday, when they open a four-game set with a doubleheader against St. Ambrose. First pitch with the Bees is set for 1:00 p.m.