KERRVILLE, Texas – The 14th-ranked Tiger baseball team finished off a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference weekend with a resounding 14-1 win at Schreiner University on Sunday afternoon.
Trinity (14-7, 5-2 SCAC) clinched the weekend series with the win, after Schreiner (7-16, 2-3 SCAC) took a 4-0 win on Saturday to even the series. The Tigers won the opening game 10-4.
Despite the high score, Trinity only plated runs in two different innings. The Tigers scored four times in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead, then added 10 runs in the sixth to blow the game wide open. Schreiner's only run came in the third, and the Mountaineers were also held to just four hits in the game.
Four different Trinity players had two hits in the game, with
Maddox McDonald (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) leading the offensive charge by going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI.
Kai Tinker (Simi Valley, Calif. / Grace Brethren) was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI, while
Jack Baker (Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point) was also 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run scored.
Jack Peterson (Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock) had two hits and two RBI with a run scored, and
Korson Hastings (San Antonio, Texas / Churchill) finished with three runs scored.
Cristian Holloway (Brownsville, Texas / Veterans Memorial) also scored twice.
Michael Boeke (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) picked up the win and improved his season record to 2-2, allowing just one run on four hits through 6.1 innings on the mound. He also notched seven strikeouts in the game.
Jonathan Newman (Pearland, Texas / Pearland) came on and got the final two outs to close out the Tiger victory.
The Rundown
Though the final score showed a lopsided win, Schreiner nearly got the early momentum after loading the bases against Boeke with two outs in the bottom of the first. Boeke picked a great time for his first strikeout, though, ending the threat and stranding all three runners. Trinity's offense rewarded him immediately after with the four-run inning.
Holloway singled to start the inning, then Tinker drove him in for the first run of the game two batters later. McDonald followed that with a two-run double and there were still no outs in the inning. McDonald moved to third on a sac bunt by Baker, then Schreiner got the second out. Peterson delivered a two-out single to make it 4-0 Trinity.
Schreiner's only run came on a pick off play with runners on the corners. The runner at first was thrown out for the second out of the inning, but the runner at third was able to score on the play. Trinity loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth and the score remained 4-1. Boeke retired the side in order in the fourth and pitched around a single and an error in the fifth to keep the Mountaineers to just the one run. That's when the Tigers pulled away for good in the top of the sixth.
Hastings doubled to start the inning, then moved to third on a hit by Tinker. McDonald and Baker then drove in runs with back-to-back RBI singles. McDonald scored on a wild pitch after that to make it 7-1, then Peterson picked up another RBI with another Tiger hit. Trinity actually lined into a double play after that and the scoring could have stopped there at 8-1; however, the Tigers had other plans.
Colt Harris (Katy, Texas / Houston Christian) singled to keep the inning going, then Holloway walked to load the bases. Kastings was hit by a pitch to send in the next run, then Tinker drew the bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 10-1. After the second pitching change of the inning, McDonald walked to snag his second RBI of the inning. Another wild pitch came after that, which allowed two Tiger runners to score on the one play. Baker then finished off the scoring with his second RBI hit of the inning – this time a triple, which wound up driving in the final run of the game and finishing off the 10-run inning.
After a long rest, Boeke came out better than ever in the bottom of the sixth, striking out the side to ruin any thoughts of Schreiner chipping into the lead and extending the game. Boeke got his fourth straight strikeout to open the seventh inning, but then gave up a walk and a single to prompt Trinity to go to the bullpen. Newman got a strikeout and a groundout and the game ended after seven due to the run-rule.
Up Next
Trinity returns home for more SCAC action this weekend, hosting the University of St. Thomas for a three-game series. The first game of the series is set for a 6:00 p.m. start on Thursday, March 28.
