(Story courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
SEGUIN, Texas – Trinity's fourth-ranked baseball team opened up its part in the NCAA Playoffs with an 8-6 loss at the hands of Franklin (Ind.) College at the Seguin Regional.
Franklin got on the board first, taking advantage of the first of four Tiger errors in the game to score two unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Trinity left the bases loaded in the bottom of the second and had six runners left on base over the first four innings. Back-to-back hits to start the last of the fourth gave the Tigers their first run of the game, cutting the lead in half at 2-1.
Franklin answered with a huge sixth inning, plating four runs on four hits to take control of the game with a 6-1 lead. Trinity got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning, then combined two hits with two Franklin errors to score four more times in the seventh to tie the game 6-6. The Tigers had two runners on with one out in the eighth, but Franklin was able to escape with the game still tied for the final inning. In the ninth, Franklin broke the tie with two runs on three hits to pull in front for good at 8-6. Trinity was retired in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Trinity falls to 34-11 this season, while Franklin improves to 29-13 overall.
Dalys Binder led the way offensively for the Tigers, going 3-5 with two doubles and scoring two runs. Jake Martin was the only other player with more than one hit for Trinity, finishing 2-5 with a run scored on the afternoon. Brannen Caraway was 1-3 with a double and two walks, while John Tucker also reached base three times with two walks and a hit.
Corey Cater was the first of five Trinity pitchers in the game, allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits, and striking out three batters over 5.2 innings. Ian Hussian (5-4) was charged with the loss, giving up two runs on three hits over the final 1.2 innings of the game.
The Tigers will play an elimination game against the losing team between host school Texas Lutheran University and Concordia (TX) University. That game is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18.
