CLEBURNE, Texas -- On the strength of 12 stolen bases and the combined pitching of Cade McGahan and Jack Martinez, Trinity University cruised to the title game of the 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball championships for the fourth straight time, and 25th time in program history with a 10-1 defeat of top-seeded Texas Lutheran Saturday afternoon at The Depot at Cleburne Station. Official Website l Tournament Stats l Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trinity pushed two runs across in the top of the third, as a single and a stolen base by both Ezra Gore produced a run on Jack Baker's single. Baker subsequently stole second and scored on a single by Tyler Pettit.
- TLU responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the third as nine-hole hitter Hayden Kesselring led off the inning by banging a ball over the left-centerfield wall to cut the Tigers lead in half at 2-1.
- In the top of the third, another single and stolen base, this time by Michael Montrezza, yielded another run when Jack Peterson singled Montrezza home to extend Trinity's lead to 3-1.
- From the fourth inning on, Trinity pitchers combined to hold TLU to just one hit the remainder of the way, and working around five walks including two in the bottom of the seventh that, along with a hit by pitch, loaded the bases with one out. However, reliever Jack Martinez struck out Holden Phillippus and Tyler Post to tamp down the threat and keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
- Trinity responded with five runs in the top of the eighth, all crossing with two outs, and highlighted by a three-run home run by Peterson.
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Jack Baker: 2-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 SBs
- Jack Peterson: 2-4, 1 run, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 SBs
- Michael Montrezza: 2-5, 2 runs, 2 SBs
- Ezra Gore: 1-2, 2 runs, 3 SBs
- Tyler Pettit: 2-5, 2 RBIs
- Ty Preston: 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 3 SBs
- Cade McGahan (WP): 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
- Jack Martinez (S): 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 4 BB
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Hayden Kesselring: 1-3, 1 run, 1 HR, 1 RBI
- Holden Philippus: 2-4
- Joe Burch (LP): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 4 BB
NOTABLES
- The two home runs hit in the game came from the respective No. 9 hitters from both teams.
- Prior to today's effort, Trinity had lost its last four Day 2 games at the SCAC tournament after opening with a Friday win.
- The 12 stolen bases for Trinity are the most for a SCAC team since Centenary stole 12 against Schriener in a March 24, 2018 game.
- Trinity has allowed three runs or less in 23 games this season.
- Trinity improved to 9-4 all-time against TLU in the SCAC tournament.
- Martinez picked up his league-leading fifth save of the season.
UP NEXT
Trinity (27-14) advances to the championship round and will play for the SCAC title tomorrow with first pitch set for Noon CT. As the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament, the Tigers will have two chances to win the league crown on Sunday. Texas Lutheran (28-14) will face the winner of today's 3:30 p.m. CT game against Centenary and Southwestern at 7 p.m. CT this evening.
