San Antonio - The defending SCAC champion Trinity Tigers fought back from an early three-run deficit to beat the Austin College Kangaroos 8-4 Saturday afternoon in a conference-opening game at the Trinity Baseball Field.
 
Trinity improved to 3-1 and 1-0 SCAC, while Austin College made its season debut.
 
Tiger head Coach Tim Scannell earned his 377th career victory. Coach Scannell, in his 13th season, is now tied with the late Houston Wheeler for most victories by a Trinity baseball coach.
 
The game was tied at 4-4 after five innings, as Trinity had been down 1-4 through the fourth. Senior right fielder Kevin Calbick and junior designated hitter Nick Pappas cracked two RBI in the fifth to even up the contest.
 
Trinity's four-run sixth inning would prove to be the spark the Tigers needed to claim the victory. Sophomore first baseman Jonathan Hall started the fireworks with a two-RBI triple to left center, scoring first-year second baseman Christian Muscarello and senior left fielder Kevin Jackson. Hall scored on an Austin College fielding error, and senior catcher Kyle Felix smacked a double to right field, scoring Calbick.
 
Hall (Kenilworth, Ill./New Trier) batted 3-5 with two RBI,  scored three runs, and stole two bases. Pappas (Los Angeles/Loyola) hit 3-4 with two RBI, a triple, and one run. Muscarello (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) went 2-4 with two runs scored. Jackson (Bellevue, Wash./O'Dea) batted 2-3, scored one run, and recorded three stolen bases.
 
Sophomore left-hander Ryan Lucero (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) went the distance and picked up the victory. Lucero (1-1) allowed nine hits, four earned runs, no walks, and fanned four batters.
 
The Tigers scored six earned runs, swatted 13 hits, committed four errors, and left seven players on base. Austin College, paced by designated hitter Scott Cottingham (3-4, one run), made two errors and stranded six players.
 
Trinity and Austin College will play a singles game at 1 p.m. Sunday.