(Story Courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Trinity's sixth-seeded baseball team opened the NCAA III World Series with a disappointing 12-0 loss at the hands of third seed LaGrange College (GA) on Friday night.
The Tigers fell to 37-12 this season with the loss, while LaGrange improved to 43-7 with the win. Starting pitcher Joseph Chavana was charged with the loss, falling to 10-2 this season. Tonight marked the first time this season that Trinity has lost a game in which he was the starting pitcher.
Trinity was shut out for just the second time this season, and the Tigers will meet up with #7 seed Baldwin Wallace University (OH) in an elimination game that is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.
The Rundown
The Tigers and Panthers both started slow, but while LaGrange caught fire on offense late in the game, Trinity was held to just four hits in the loss. Tyler Pettit doubled in the second for the first hit of the game for Trinity, but he was stranded at second base.
Trinity also put a pair of runners on with one out in the third, but both runners were left on base. LaGrange broke up the shutout in the bottom of the inning, scoring two unearned runs to take the lead.
The Panthers scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-0 lead, then added seven more insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to end any hopes of a Trinity rally. The Tiger offense was held hitless over the final four innings of the game.
Numbers to Note
MJ Metz collected his team-leading 78th hit of the season, which is tied for the fourth-highest total in school history. He also swiped his 22nd stolen base of the year, which is also the most among his Tiger teammates.
Chavana is just the 10th player ever at Trinity to pitch at least 90 innings in one season. He also recorded six strikeouts in the game to take over the team lead with 80 strikeouts this season.
This marks the second time in three trips to the NCAA III World Series that Trinity has lost the opening game. The Tigers lost a 7-5 game to Emory University to start the 2015 tournament.
Up Next
Trinity will take on Baldwin Wallace University in the first elimination game of the bracket, which is slated for a 4:30 p.m. start on Saturday, June 4.
