Seven different hitters drove in nine runs, and clutch relief pitching preserved the win as TBC Eagles Baseball began the 2025 Russ-Matt Invitational with a 9-7 win over the Crimson Wave of Indiana's Calumet College of St. Joseph on Friday in Orlando. The win is the fifth against NAIA competition so far this season.

The Eagles used two separate three-run innings to build an insurmountable lead despite a late comeback effort from the Crimson Wave. Each team scored in the first, and in the bottom half, Seth Reeves singled home Gavin Williams (walk) to tie the score at 1-1. The Eagles then took the lead one inning later.

In the second, Jacob Burke drove in two with a base hit, and Larson Lott was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make the score 4-1. Calumet tied it up with a three-run rally of their own in the top of the third on two separate run-scoring singles; the second one (Tyler Brody) drove in two to knot it up.

The Eagles reclaimed the lead for good in their half of the third with two runs (Logan McGann bases-loaded walk, Ryan Onkst RBI fielder's choice).

Onkst and Williams started the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles, and Williams's drove in Onkst. One out later, Reeves plated Williams with a base hit, and with two outs, Dominic Gattinella lined a triple to right to allow Nate Nogueras (fielder's choice) to motor around from first. Trinity led 9-4.

Calumet scored one in the seventh (Tommy Benson home run) and two in the eighth (RBI single, bases-loaded walk) to pull to within two. That's when closer Drew Billings bore down with the tying runs on base and one out. Billings struck out the next man and induced a ground ball to end the rally. He then pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

Jacob Brigman started and got his fourth win with 5 innings pitched in which he allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 5. After Calumet tied the score at 4-4 in the third, Brigman did not allow another run in his final 2.2 innings.

Reeves was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI, and Nogueras was 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Burke drove in 2 runs, and Williams scored 2 to help highlight the Eagles' offense. Benson, Blaze Cano, and Levi Knezevic combined for 7 for 13, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored to lead the Crimson Wave.

TBC will play twice on Saturday, both against NAIA opponents. First, the Eagles are the visiting team against Bethel University of Indiana at 2:00 p.m. Then, TBC is the home team against NAIA Valley City State University (North Dakota) at 5:00 p.m.

After a week off, the Eagles will return to the Russ-Matt next Friday and Saturday to face two more Northern NAIA teams for three total games on March 7 and 8.