Baseball

(Story courtesy Trinity University)

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - The Trinity Tiger baseball team moved on to the title game at the 2011 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships Tournament, defeating Rhodes 4-2 at USA Baseball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Trinity improved to 32-11 with the win, and will play in the championship game for the fourth consecutive year.  The Tigers won the conference crown in 2008, as well as last year at USA Stadium.

The Tigers jumped ahead with three runs in the second inning, but managed just one run the rest of the way.  That final run came in the fourth, and put Trinity ahead 4-0 at the time. 

Despite lacing seven hits in the first five innings, Rhodes was held scoreless until the sixth inning by Tiger starter Michael Bentz.  In the sixth, Rhodes cut Trinity's lead in half with two runs, climbing back into contention.

Ryan Lucero came on in the sixth, finishing off the game with 3.2 innings of work, giving up just one hit, and striking out four batters to earn his first save of the year.  Bentz was credited with the win, improving to 4-2 on the year. 

Trinity's offense was held to just three hits in the game by Rhodes starter Jackson Baker, who allowed four earned runs, and struck out nine in the loss.

Kevin Clements was 1-3 with two RBI, while Kevin Calbick was 1-2 with a run scored.  Nick Pappas got Trinity's third hit, and also scored a run.  Dylan Early also earned an RBI for the Tigers.

Later today in the tournament, Hendrix and DePauw will play an elimination game, and the winner goes on to face Rhodes tonight.  The winner of that final game will go on to face the Trinity Tigers in the championship on Sunday.

After the game, SCAC Correspondent James Hill had the chance to catch up with both head coaches, as well as Trinity pitcher Ryan Lucero

To listen to Trinity head coach Tim Scannell, click here.

To listen to Rhodes head coach Jeff Cleanthes, click here.

To listen to Trinity sophomore Ryan Lucero, click here.