(Story Courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The NCAA Playoff run that vaulted the 15th-ranked Trinity baseball team into the Division III World Series came to an end on Sunday, as the Tigers lost 15-3 to LaGrange College.
Sixth-seeded Trinity fell to 38-13 on the season and both losses this weekend came at the hands of LaGrange. The third-seeded Panthers improved to 44-8 on the year and the fourth-ranked team in the nation advances to the bracket finale against Eastern Connecticut State University later this evening.
Both teams scored in the first inning, but only LaGrange kept the scoring going throughout the game. The game got away from the Tigers after giving up six total runs in the fifth and sixth innings to fall behind 11-1 at the time.
The Rundown
LaGrange took advantage of two walks and a hit in the top of the first to strike first in the game, though Trinity was able to answer and tie the game in the bottom of the inning. MJ Metz laced a leadoff double to the gap in left-center to start the Tiger first, then came around to score on a single up the middle from Ezra Gore to make it 1-1.
Trinity was able to pitch around a hit and a walk in the second, but a four-hit third inning resulted in four more scores to put LaGrange in front 5-1. The Tigers put the first two batters on in the bottom of the fourth, but were unable to scratch any runs across.
LaGrange then exploded with three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth, totaling six hits in the two innings and taking an 11-1 lead with just three frames remaining in the elimination game. The seventh inning meant two more runs and a 12-1 advantage for the Panthers.
The best inning of the day for the Tigers came in the bottom of the seventh, stringing together three straight hits with one out to get the scoring started. Cristian Holloway drove in a run with an infield single, then a walk to Metz loaded the bases. Jack Wisniewski drew a walk to drive in another run to make it a 13-3 game and still just one out. The next two batters grounded out, though, and Trinity stranded the bases loaded to miss a chance to claw back in reach.
LaGrange got those two runs back in the top of the ninth and Trinity went down in order to close out the game and end its season.
Numbers to Note
With a double and a run scored in today's game, Metz now stands alone in second place in Trinity's record books for single season runs (67), at-bats (207), and doubles (26). He also moves out of a tie into fourth place with 79 hits on the year.
Gore finished 2-for-4 with one RBI in the game and was the only Trinity player with more than one hit today. He finishes the season with 72 hits and 57 runs scored, while also swiping his 19th stolen base of the year.
Corey Cater made his 62nd career appearance on the mound for the Tigers, which ties him for the fourth-most in school history. He also recorded three strikeouts and finishes 14th in Trinity history with 206 career strikeouts.
Alex Bihn got the starting nod for the Tigers in the game, but was saddled with the loss to fall to 1-1 this season.
Up Next
Trinity finishes its 2022 season with today's defeat and will return to the field next year.
