Abilene, Texas – The Trinity Tigers
baseball team bounced back from an early Tuesday loss to McMurry,
to beat the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys 16-8 in a non-conference game at
Hunter Field.
Trinity improved to 19-6, and Hardin-Simmons dropped to 10-10.
The Tigers set the tone of their second game of the day by
scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning. Junior second
baseman Dominick Robusto cracked a two-RBI single to center field.
The Tigers scored seven runs on six hits in the inning.
Trinity led 8-1, after junior outfielder Dylan Early hit his
sixth home run of the season - a solo shot to right field in the
third inning. The Tigers produced four more runs in the fifth
inning to take a 12-4 lead. Senior outfielder Chris Walden led the
charge with a two-RBI double down the left-field line.
Hardin-Simmons scored four runs over the next two innings, but that
would be it for the Cowboys. Trinity iced the game wioth three runs
in the top of the eighth - including another RBI double from
Walden.
Walden hit 3-5 with five RBI, and scored two runs. First-year
shorstop Kevin Clements batted 4-6, with one RBI, three runs,
and two doubles. Sophomore outfielder Nick Pappas went 3-6, with
four RBI, and scored one run.
Junior left-hander Kevin Calbick was the first of three Tiger
pitchers, and took the victory. Calbick (1-1) pitched five innings,
allowing five earned runs, nine hits, two walks, and had three
strikeouts. He moved to the designated hitter position and scored
three runs. Junior right-hander Michael Panozzo hurled the final
three innings, and picked up his first save of the season. Panozzo
yielded no runs, no walks, two hits, and struck out three Cowboy
batters.
Trinity scored 16 earned runs and smashed 18 hits in the game.
Hardin-Simmons scored eight earned runs, collected 14 hits, made no
errors, and stranded nine runners.
The Tigers return home to E.M. Stevens Field for a three-game
SCAC series Saturday and Sunday witrh defending conference champion
Hendrix. Saturday's doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., and
Sunday's single game also begins at 1. Hendrix beat Trinity
in last year's SCAC Championship game.
