San Antonio - The third-ranked Trinity baseball team scored four runs in the eighth inning to defeat 18th-ranked Babson (MA) College 6-1 Friday night in the opening of a three-game series.

GAME SUMMARY

The Tigers allowed two runners on base in each of the first two innings, but two first-inning strikeouts and a second-inning double play kept Babson off the board.

The Beavers sandwiched a pair of singles around a stolen base to bring in the game's first run in the top of the third inning.

Trinity got its first hit of the game with one out in the third, then tied the game with its second hit of the night in the fourth inning. Michael Goodrich drove a home run off the scoreboard in left-center field to make it a 1-1 ball game.

Neither team managed another score over the next two innings, though Babson had a runner on base in every frame until the seventh. After Trinity got the visitors 1-2-3 in the top half, Mason Meredith drove a two-out single through the left side to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

After a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth put the tying run on base, Trinity brought in Corey Cater to close out the game. The runner was thrown out trying to steal second, then Cater struck out the next two batters to keep Trinity in front. 

The Tigers got a pair of one-out singles to breathe life into the eighth inning, then Jack Wisniewski dropped a two-run double into the left-center gap to put Trinity up 4-1. MJ Metz crushed the very next pitch over the wall in left to add two more insurance runs and effectively finish off the game.

Cater retired Babson in order in the ninth to secure his first save of the season.

NOTABLES

Trinity improved to 7-2 while Babson opened the season with a loss. The Tigers and Beavers played a three-game series last year at Trinity, with the home team coming out on top 2-1.

Michael Goodrich batted 2-3 with two runs scored and his second home run of the season.

Jack Wisniewski hit 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Mason Meredith also had a pair of hits for the Tigers.

First-year player MJ Metz hit the first home run of his early career, driving in the final two runs of the game in the eighth inning.

Mark Tindall (1-0) earned the win in relief of starter Jeff Lonnecker. Tindall didn't allow a hit over 1.1 innings, striking out a pair of batters and yielding one walk. Lonnecker struck out five over 5.2 innings, giving up a run on five hits.

Corey Cater pitched two perfect innings to finish off the game, earning his first save of the year with a three-strikeout performance.

UP NEXT

Trinity and Babson will play a single game at 7:00 p.m. Saturday.