Jose Michel pitched five scoreless frames before allowing runs in the sixth, and two teammates drove in first-inning runs in TBC Eagles Baseball's season opener against NCCAA South Region opponent Paine College. Paine, however, rallied in two later innings and won the game 8-3.

Through the first five innings, Michel allowed only two base runners on one hit and one walk while striking out eight Paine Lions.

Michael's offense gave him an early lead in the bottom of the first when Gavin Williams lined a run-scoring triple to score Graham Gorman, who led off the game with a walk and soon after stole second base. David Hickey followed with a double to nearly the same spot to drive in Williams. Hickey got to third on a base hit from Nate Nogueras, but Lions pitcher Christian Tibabijo got a popup to end in the inning.

[Graham Gorman (at bat) scored TBC's first run of the season.]

The Eagles pulled off a double steal with two outs in the eighth. Jordan Fernandez led off with a base hit; he advanced to second on a hit batsman and to third on a fielder's choice.  Drew Gifford took off from first successfully, and Fernandez timed the throw perfectly to steal home for the Eagles' final run.

Overall, Hickey was 3 for 5 while Williams, Fernandez, and Parker Laffrey each had 2 hits and Ryan Onkst and Jacob Burke also hit safely.

Paine got to Michel for three runs in the sixth and added four in the seventh and one more in the eighth. Tababijo pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eleven hits.

The two teams will play a double-header on Saturday afternoon beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST. Trinity will then host NAIA Thomas University for two starting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6. In fact, the Eagles are home for all 15 games in February.