Alpine, Texas – The Tiger baseball team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a late charge to take a 13-8 road win over Sul Ross State University on Saturday night.

The game was delayed six hours due to high winds in the area that blew the roof off of the batting cage as the teams were preparing for the afternoon start. Trinity improves to 8-1 on the season with the win and sets up tomorrow's rubber match in the three-game weekend series at Sul Ross.

The Rundown

Trinity scored nine runs over the final two innings to pull past Sul Ross, beginning with a grand slam from Michael Goodrich (Gilbert, Ariz. / Basha) in the top of the eighth. The Tigers added five more runs with two outs in the top of the ninth, including a two-run triple off the bat of Jack Wisniewski (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) and a run-scoring single from Tyler Pettit (Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock).

Both teams started off the game with runs in the first inning, including a single to score a run by Mason Meredith (Houston, Texas / Memorial) that was the first of 11 Tiger hits in the ball game.

Trinity scored again in the second to ease back in front, then added another run in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Wisniewski doubled to lead off the second and scored on an error, then he drove in the run in the third with a sacrifice fly.

Sul Ross tied the game in the bottom of the third, though, then took its first lead of the night with another score in the fifth. Goodrich drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to tie the game 4-4, but Sul Ross got another run in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the advantage.

Trinity left 12 runners on base through the first seven innings and was on the verge of a second straight loss with just six outs remaining. After a pitching change in the eighth, Goodrich deposited the first pitch he saw over the fence in left field to put the Tigers back into the lead for the first time since the third inning. Trinity still had a chance for more, leaving the bases loaded at the end of the inning.

Sul Ross answered immediately with two runs of its own in the eighth to make it an 8-7 game, but Trinity strung together four hits, two walks, and a hit batter to blow the game wide open. The Lobos got another run in the ninth, but the damage was done and the Tigers pulled off the win.

Notable Numbers

The eighth-inning grand slam was the only hit of the day for Goodrich, who did draw a pair of walks and drove in five total runs to lead the Tigers.

Wiwniewski finished 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Meredith led the team with a three-hit performance that included two doubles, two runs scored, and one RBI. Jack Vonderhaar (Woodinville, Wash. / Redmond) joined his teammates as the only three players with multi-hit games.

Michael Herrera (Phoenix, Ariz. / Sunrise Mountain) and Brian Schaub (Hatfield, Pa. / La Salle College HS) scored two runs each in the win, while Schaub and Rafe Chaumette (Sugar Land, Texas / Clements) drew three walks each. The Tigers were issued a total of 14 walks in the game.

Corey Cater (Sacramento, Calif. / Valley Christian Academy) struck out seven batters in five innings of relief to earn the win and improve to 1-0 this season. Cater allowed two runs on five hits in the game, though only one of the runs was earned.

Matthew Thomas (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Horizon) picked up his third save of the season by pitching the final two innings of the game.

Up Next

Trinity and Sul Ross will be back on the diamond one more time tomorrow to determine the winner of the weekend series. Sunday's game is scheduled for a noon start.