(Portions of this story courtesy of Trinity University)
(Photo courtesy of Lang White, UT-Tyler Athletics)
TYLER, Texas - The Trinity baseball team opened up its part in the NCAA Playoffs this afternoon against Linfield College, but with the Tigers holding a 4-0 lead after five innings, lightning and rain in the area postponed the game until Thursday morning. Regional Website
Starting pitcher Ryan Gray threw five no-hit innings for the Tigers, striking out six Linfield batters, and allowing just three baserunners. Gray, who came into the game with a 7-0 record and a team-low 1.81 ERA, will likely not be back on the mound when the game resumes tomorrow.
Trinity opened the game with a bang, scoring four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning, keyed by a two-run double by Drew Butler. Butler was 2-for-2 when the game was suspended, while leadoff hitter Connor Moore also had a pair of hits to start the game.
Linfield's best opportunity came in the fourth inning, as Eric Lawson reached third with just one out. Gray responded with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat, and finished the day by retiring five consecutive batters.
The game will resume at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, and the regional tournament will continue with Millsaps College and Whitworth University - originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight. The hosting University of Texas-Tyler lost to the University of La Verne 2-0 to start the day. The remainder of the schedule will be dependent on tomorrow's results.
