Jose Michel pitched a complete game to earn the win in Game 2 of TBC's double-header with the Macaws of first-year program Millennia Atlantic University on Wednesday. His performance helped TBC Eagles Baseball rebound from Game 1's 9-8 loss to earn the split with a 6-4 victory in Game 2.

Game 2: Eagles 6, MAU 4

Michel pitched all 7 innings, allowing 0 earned runs on only 4 hits while walking 0 and striking out 5. Michel overcame seven defensive miscues to keep the Macaws at bay. He pitched three different 1-2-3 innings and retired 10 straight batters spanning the fourth through the sixth innings.

A leadoff error in the top of the seventh put a runner at second and brought the tying run to the plate. Michel, though, induced a groundout and a flyout. Shortstop Logan McGann then made the defensive play of the game when he slid to his right to make a backhand snag on a well-hit ground ball in the hole. McGann sprang to his feet and fired a one-hopper into the mitt of David Hickey at first base to end the game.

After the game, Michel quoted a coach from years ago: "One of my favorite coaches always told me that it's not about luck in baseball; it's about never giving up, " he said.

[Jose Michel: CG, W, 7 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K]

Michel did not give up; he used 95 pitches to persevere in his first collegiate win.

Trinity took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Drew Gifford bunted to advance Seth Reeves (hit by pitch) and Zakori Ross (walk), and the throw to first went wild. Reeves scored on the overthrow, and Ross was thrown out at the plate trying to follow. A ground ball moved Gifford from second to third, and Gifford scored on a base hit from Gavin Williams.

Trinity rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie the score with two in the third on RBI singles from Williams and Jordan Fernandez. Trinity led 1-0 after one thanks to Fernandez driving in Williams with a base hit. Fernadez had 5 RBI total in both games.

Millennia tied it at 1-1 in the second then took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third on two missed plays. They retied the score at 4-4 in the top of the sixth. All four of their runs were unearned.

Game 1: MAU 9, Eagles 8

The opener was a seesaw affair that featured a five-run rally for the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth. TBC started the inning trailing 5-2 but got RBI from Dominic Gattinella (fielder's choice), Hickey (double), and Fernandez (two-run double). Fernandez soon after scored on a throwing error. By the inning's end, TBC led 7-5.

[Jordan Fernandez: 3 for 5, BB, R, 5 RBI in double-header]

Millennia then scored two in each of the sixth and seventh innings with another RBI from Fernandez (base-loaded walk) sandwiched in between in the bottom of the sixth. The Eagles got the tying run to third in the seventh but could not bring him in.

Both teams scored twice in the second. Parker Laffrey (single) crossed on a wild pitch, and Ross hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Nate Nogueras (single) for Ross's first career RBI.

Colin Sepulveda worked 3.1 terrific innings in relief, allowing only 1 earned run on 0 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts spanning Innings 3 through 6. Gattlinella threw a man out from right field as the runner tried to score on a single to end the top of the first.

Next Up

The Eagles will host NAIA Ave Maria University for two beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, then travel to NAIA Voorhees College on April 5. The final home games of the season are against UCSAA Atlantis University on Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13.