San Antonio – The Tiger baseball team opened its 2021 season with a 9-6 victory over Howard Payne (TX) University on Tuesday night.

How it Happened

Trinity got off to a fast start with three-run first inning, then padded the lead with a single run in the third to make it a 4-0 game. All of the scoring from the opening frame came with two outs, taking advantage of a single, a hit batter, and a pair of walks.

Despite picking up a run in the third, Trinity narrowly missed another big inning by leaving the bases loaded. That big inning came in the fourth, though, as a leadoff triple keyed another three-run frame that put the Tigers in front 7-0.

Howard Payne not only broke up the shutout in the top of the sixth, but the visitors nearly rallied to tie things up. The Yellowjackets put up six runs despite just two hits, taking advantage of three hit batters and three walks by Trinity pitchers.

Trinity's offense had an emphatic response in the bottom of the inning as Michael Goodrich (Gilbert, Ariz. / Basha) and Jack Vonderhaar (Woodinville, Wash. / Redmond) led off with back-to-back home runs to put the Tigers back up by three.

Matthew Thomas (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Horizon) came on in relief with one out in the seventh and wrecked any hopes of another rally. Thomas earned a save in the season opener for the second consecutive season, erasing the only hit he allowed by inducing a game-ending double play in the ninth.

By the Numbers

Thomas struck out four batters over the final 2.2 innings of the game to earn the save, including the first two batters he faced with a runner on base in the seventh.

Cade McGahan (Davidson, N.C. / Hough) was credited with the win after tossing 3.0 innings out of the bullpen. He came on in the third inning with the Tigers up 3-0, striking out three batters and allowing just one hit.

James Nittoli (San Antonio, Texas / Alamo Heights) got the starting nod and pitched a pair of shutout innings to open the season. Nittoli picked up a pair of strikeouts in the pre-planned short outing.

Vonderhaar picked up three of Trinity's nine total hits in the game, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. He drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the first, then put the exclamation point on the night with his solo homer to end the scoring.

Goodrich also had a strong night at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a homer and scoring three runs. Jack Wisniewski (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) added two runs scored and two walks, picking up the game's only triple.

Tyler Pettit (Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock) finished his night with two RBI and a pair of walks, while Rafe Chaumette (Sugar Land, Texas / Clements) drove in two runs with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

What's Next?

Trinity and Southwestern (TX) University will square off for a four-game weekend series of non-conference action, beginning with Friday's 7:00 p.m. game in San Antonio. The teams will then play a Saturday doubleheader in Georgetown, Texas, followed by the series finale back at Trinity on Sunday.