Alma, Mich. - The Alma College baseball team split its home doubleheader with Trine University on Tuesday (April 12) at Klenk Park, defeating the Thunder by a 3-1 margin in the opener before falling, 8-6, in the finale.

The Thunder took the overall series, 3-1, and handed Alma its first home loss of the year in game two. The Scots are now 17-6 overall and 8-4 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and own a 7-1 mark on their home field. Trine is 13-9 and 9-3 in the MIAA, one game ahead of the Scots.

Junior Greg Goffee (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) went 4-for-7 in the two-game set with one RBI, while junior Adam Thoryk (Syracuse, N.Y./ John C. Birdlebough/St. John Fisher) was 3-for-7 with four RBIs.

Game 1 - at Alma 3, Trine 1

The Scots scored three times in the third inning to win their first game of the series, defeating Trine 3-1. Thoryk went 2-for-3 with two RBIs as Alma held serve at Klenk Park.

Senior Colin Nash (Brighton, Mich./Brighton) went the distance on the mound to remain perfect for the season, striking out five in seven innings to improve his record to 4-0.

The third inning provided all the scoring for Alma, with the Scots tallying four of their six hits. Alma loaded the bases with one out when Thoryk hit an infield single to the shortstop, scoring Goffee and sophomore Matthew Minaudo (Clinton Township, Mich./De La Salle Collegiate). Senior Yoan De La Rosa (Bronx, N.Y./Morris/Monroe College) singled during the next at bat to score senior David Carles (Staten Island, N.Y./Petrides/College of Staten Island) and give Alma a 3-0 advantage.

Trine scored in the top of the fifth when Jacob Heller crossed home plate due to a called balk on Nash. The Thunder could not get any closer as Nash held Trine to one hit over the final two innings.

Vinny Slobodecki (2-2) got the loss for Trine, giving up six hits in six innings of work. Jacob Heller led the Thunder at the plate, going 3-for-3.

Game 2 - Trine 8, at Alma 6

A five-run third inning by the Thunder proved too much for the Scots to overcome as Trine won game two, 8-6, to split the doubleheader and win the series. Goffee and sophomore Nick Swanson (West Bloomfield, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) each had three hits as the two teams combined for 27 hits.

Alma looked poised for a big start, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning. The Scots scored when Brandon Mylcraine walked Thoryk, but Trine was able to get out of the jam, stranding three Alma runners. 

After Trine took a 5-1 lead in the top of the third, the Scots chipped away at the lead, pulling within one run at 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. The Thunder responded with two scores in the top of the seventh, including a homer by Robert Ross to go up by a 7-4 margin.

Alma put runs on the board in the bottom half of the seventh and eighth innings to get within one run a second time at 7-6, but Trine got an insurance run in the top of the ninth and Jake Weimer closed the door for his fourth save of the season.

Senior Matt Launstein (Flushing, Mich./Flushing) was pulled after three innings, while junior Mike Mallory (Ithaca, Mich./Ithaca) lasted three innings, striking out four batters. Sophomore Eric Frontzak (Naperville, Ill./Montini Catholic) closed out the game for the Scots in the final three innings.

Alma will remain at Klenk Park to open their next series, welcoming defending MIAA champion Adrian College on Saturday, April 16. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.

QUOTES

Head Coach Jake Sabol

On game 2...
"We dug ourselves a hole early and gave up a lot of free bases, whether it be a walk or a miscue in the field, which set us back early. We tried chipping away, we left a lot of guys on base and didn't come up with that timely hit. Trine did a nice job getting a couple of big hits in big situations and keeping it out of reach for us. We were one or two hits away from making it a game until the end."