(Photos by Josh Moczygemba)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -Trinity University fought off a
furious rally from Texas Lutheran University to reach the SCAC
Championship game with an 8-7 victory on Saturday
afternoon. Official Championship
Website | Tim Scannell (TU) Post-Game
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Pat Hirschberg ripped a two-out shot to right-center to plate the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, keeping the Tigers from squandering what was a seven-run lead at one point.
Trinity scored three runs in the fourth, then added four more in the sixth and seventh to make it 7-0 heading into the final two frames. As it was in last night's game, though, the eighth inning proved to be key for the Bulldogs. Texas Lutheran scored eight runs in the eighth to beat Centenary to finish yesterday's action, then scored four runs in today's game to claw back into contention on Saturday.
In the top of the ninth, Keaton Bohrmann scorched a two-run double to tie the game 7-7, completing the Texas Lutheran comeback. The Tigers were able to escape the inning tied, though, setting up Hirschberg's winning hit.
Hirschberg finished the game 3-4 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBI to pace the Tiger offense. Austin Singer also had another solid day with two runs and three RBI, going 2-5 with a home run. Connor Moore was 2-4 with two runs, as three of Trinity's top four batters in the lineup accounted for seven of the team's nine hits.
Bohrmann collected two hits and drove in four RBI for the second straight game (he also had a grand slam yesterday). Christian DeBlanc was 2-5 with two runs, while Von Wendell and Zach Jacobs had two hits each as well.
Trinity starter Zack Speer gave up one unearned run on four hits over seven innings of work, but had to settle for a no-decision. Kevin Flores picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season, pitching the final 0.1 innings to finish off the ninth inning.
Thomas Harwell (3-3) was charged with the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing one unearned run on two hits over the final 1.2 innings.
Trinity will have to wait to find out its opponent in tomorrow's SCAC final, which will depend on the rest of today's results. The tournament continues with Centenary College and Southwestern University in an elimination game at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to tonight's game against Texas Lutheran at 7:00 p.m.
