Senior Day 2024 at Trinity Ballyard saw the honoring of seniors Joseph Labas and Ryan Onkst before Saturday's double-header. Both men had fabulous moments on the field – Labas on the mound and Onkst at the plate – as the Eagles split the twin bill with the Bruins of Bob Jones University.

In all three games of the series, TBC Eagles Baseball rallied from behind in their final at bat. In both Friday's contest and Saturday's Game 1, the BJU starter got the final out with the tying run on third to end it and finish with a complete game victory. In the final game, though, the Eagles got that big hit to tie the score and take the lead, and the team finished with a comeback win.

Game 2: Eagles 9, Bob Jones 8

With his team trailing 8-7, Onkst lined a two-run double to left center that scored Nate Nogueras (error) with the tying run and Logan McGann (single) with the winning run. McGann's hit allowed Nogueras to go from first to third. The blow from Onkst capped a four-run rally with nobody out to give the Eagles the lead for the second time in the game.

[Senior Ryan Onkst drove in the tying and winning runs in Game 2.]

The inning started with Dominic Gattinella reaching on an error and Parker Laffrey beating out an infield single. Nogueras's sacrifice bunt caused an errant throw that allowed Gattinella to continue around for the first run. McGann's base hit drove in Laffrey to pull the Eagles to within a run.

Once the Eagles took the lead, a soft-tossing lefty named Noah Weaver entered and got a ground ball, a popup, and a strikeout to end the inning and give his team one last chance in the seventh.

Nogueras, though, thwarted that chance with a perfect three-strikeout frame to earn the save and preserve the win.

Andrew Mohler got his first collegiate win with 1.2 innings in relief, allowing 3 unearned runs on 3 hits. He walked 1 and fanned 3.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the second on a balk that brought Gattinella (single) in from third and a RBI single from McGann to score Laffrey (single). BJU scored 3 times in the fourth to take the lead then added 5 in the fifth before Mohler got the final out. Isaiah Brandt drove in 3 of those 8 runs, and Sam Gonzalez drove in 2.

Game 1: Bob Jones 5, Eagles 4

Labas started on Senior Day and pitched exceptional baseball before leaving in the top of the third. Labas allowed just 1 run on 3 singles while walking 1 and striking out 2. Two of the three hits were infield singles in the second when BJU scored.

[Senior Joseph Labas: 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K in Senior Day start]

The last pitch he threw resulted in a 6-4-3 double play.

Trinity took a 3-1 lead in the third on a triple from Gattinella and a single from Laffrey to tie the score. Laffrey went to third on a sacrifice bunt from Nogueras and an infield single from McGann then scored on a balk for the lead. Onkst then grounded into an error to bring in McGann.

Bob Jones, though had a 3-run rally in the sixth after the first three men reached. An error, a single, and a sacrifice fly allowed the runners to score. An insurance run without a hit in the seventh turned out huge for Bob Jones as Nogueras doubled home Laffrey (error) in the bottom half to pull Trinity to within a run. A sacrifice bunt, an "at 'em" ball, and a lineout ended the threat and the game. Joshua Legnard went the distance, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts. 

Remaining Schedule

The Eagles have one home date remaining, a double-header with NAIA Ave Maria University at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22. The season ends with a four-game series with South Region rival Toccoa Falls College on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27.

The NCCAA South Region Tournament ensues from May 6-10 at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa, Georgia.