Spring break was tumultuous for the Tigers, as they followed up a three game sweep of McMurry University with a 3-4 loss to DeSales University on March 12 before losing their first two games against the No. 24 SUNY Cortland Red Dragons. However, the team bounced back and won the final two games against Cortland, salvaging a split in the series.
The four-game series was a part of a busy stretch of schedule, where the Tigers played 11 games in 13 days and went 8-3. Fortunately, the three losses did not knock them out of the top 25, as the Tigers were ranked No. 9 as of March 16.
In their first game against Cortland, the Tigers were completely outmatched, losing game one 11-3. The Red Dragons struck first and took an early 6-0 lead in the second inning. The lead ballooned to 10-0 in the fifth, putting the game out of reach and sending the Tigers to their second consecutive loss. That was the first time Trinity had lost back-to-back games all year. Trinity then dropped their third game in a row as they fell to Cortland 8-5. The Red Dragons once again got an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Trinity’s pitching held the deficit steady, led by sophomore reliever Brandon Morio and his 3 2/3 scoreless frames. However, Cortland’s offense eventually came through with a five-run seventh inning to increase their lead to eight. While the Tigers were able to score five unanswered runs to end the game, the deficit proved to be too much.
Defensive mishaps impacted the two losses to Cortland, as Trinity committed a combined seven errors in the two games. The errors gave Cortland the upper hand, giving them free baserunners and, consequently, runs. In both losses the Tigers surrendered three unearned runs, meaning Cortland was only able to score because of Trinity’s errors.
“We were trying to be heroes instead of making a simple routine play,” Tigers’ pitching coach Dave Smith said. “We talked about that on Saturday and Sunday, you know, just be good. You don’t have to be great. You don’t have to make the amazing play. We just want to see simple plays.”
Having lost the first two games of the series, the Tigers entered the third game needing wind in their sails. A 21 mph breeze with 40 mph gusts seemed to do the trick as the Tigers struck first with a two-run home run off the bat of senior catcher Nick Lazzara. Trinity then added five runs in the bottom of the second, taking a 7-2 lead.
“I knew [the pitcher] was going to go inside on me,” Lazzara said. “And I was just waiting, in my mind thinking, ‘I really, really hope he tries one more time,’ and he did first pitch.”
In the seventh inning, the Tigers held on to their lead up 9-5, but Cortland responded with a four-run seventh inning and eventually tied the game in the eighth inning. However, Trinity managed to find some late inning magic with runners on, as senior infielder Brandon Nelson drove in two runs pinch hitting.
“I was just sitting on the bench, having a good time, drinking some water, then I get the call and [Tim Scannell] told me to put on my batting gloves. I felt comfortable, watched a couple of strikes, then got the pitch that I wanted.”
The Tigers then added two more runs off a base hit from sophomore outfielder Kaleb Woodward, extending the lead to 13-9. Senior relief pitcher Will Hellings recorded the final outs of the game and helped Trinity end the losing streak.
Trinity entered the fourth and final game with an opportunity to split the series, and they did so with a resounding 7-2 win. Once again, Nick Lazzara hit a two-run bomb in the first inning, contributing to the six runs Trinity scored in the first two innings. Cortland, who had scored at least eight runs in the previous three games, was held to just two as first-year Jace Clay picked up his third win as starting pitcher.
“He really took the challenge of a good team and just attacked them,” Smith said. “It was unbelievable.”
Clay pitched 7 1/3 innings, earning eight strikeouts with only one walk and got the win.
After dropping the first two games in the series, Trinity was able to secure a split, a result that sets them up nicely for a potential at-large bid in the NCAA tournament.
“I think it’s huge that we battled back after losing the first two games,” Nelson said. “It really shows that we’re young and resilient and I’m interested to see where this goes next week.”
Trinity followed up the series with a 6-3 loss versus the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor and a dominant 14-2 win against Hardin Simmons University. The Tigers continue their season this weekend, March 21, against the University of the Ozarks and will try to build on their strong record so far.
