San Antonio – The fourth-ranked Tiger baseball team opened up a four-game weekend series with a 3-1 win over Southwestern (Texas) University on Friday night.

How it Happened

Trinity got on the board with a run in the first, but Southwestern escaped a big inning after issuing three walks and committing a costly error on catcher's interference. The Tigers took the lead despite going hitless in the inning, scoring on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Tyler Pettit (Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock).

Leadoff hitter Michael Herrera (Phoenix, Ariz. / Sunrise Mountain) put Trinity in front 2-0 with his two-out solo homer in the bottom of the second, depositing a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left field.

Brian Schaub (Hatfield, Pa. / La Salle College) made the most of his first hit as a Tiger, crushing a solo shot over the fence in left-center field for a 3-0 Trinity lead.

Southwestern left a runner on base in each of the first five innings, but failed to get on the board against Tiger starter Garrett Aylor (Austin, Texas / Westlake). The Pirates finally broke up the shutout with a pair of hits in the sixth, but a double play in the seventh erased the last baserunner of the night for the visitors.

Trinity reliever Corey Cater (Sacramento, Calif. / Valley Christian Academy) retired all seven batters he faced to close out the final 2.2 innings of the game and seal the win.

By the Numbers

Aylor (1-0) earned the win after tossing five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 11 batters. Cater struck out three batters in his first action of the season, while also scooping up his first save of the year.

Herrera had two of Trinity's five hits in the game, going 2-3 with two runs scored and his first round-tripper of the young campaign. Both Pettit and Evan McDonald (Pflugerville, Texas Pflugerville) drew a pair of walks, and McDonald also picked up a hit to reach base three times. Rafe Chaumette (Sugar Land, Texas / Clements) had the only other hit of the night for the Tigers on an infield single.

What's Next?

Trinity and Southwestern will travel north to Georgetown, Texas, for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader, with game one scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. The weekend series concludes with a 2:00 p.m. game back at Trinity on Sunday.