A sweep of the Saturday double-header for TCJ Eagles Baseball means a sweep of the series against the rivaled Bruins of Bob Jones University, and the Eagles made it all happen. TCJ got temendous pitching in both games on Saturday, and the offense got production from all spots in the lineup. Trinity won the first game 12-0 and the second 9-2 in the South Region twin bill. 

Game 1: Eagles 12, Bob Jones 0

Freshman Brodie Nichols tossed the best game of the season so far, one that will be nearly impossible to beat. Nichols pitched a complete-game 1-hit shutout in which he allowed only 2 base runners. He also struck out 6 and faced one 1 batter over the minimum. 

Nichols retired all 9 Bruins batters in order through the first three innings, including 3 strikeouts. He also tossed perfect 5th and 6th innings. Only one man singled to start the fourth, but Nichols retired the next three. Nichols hit a batter to start the 7th but immediately afterward induced a 6-4-3 douple play. 

[Brodie Nichols: CG, 7 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 HP, 6K vs. Bob Jones for his first collegiate win]

Nichols then struck out the final Bruin to end a spectaucular outing. 

Gavin Williams continued his hot hitting with a base hit in the botom of the first and soon scored on a double from Gadriel Burgos. Trinity the mounted a four-run rally in the second when Dawson Harrelson (hit batsman), Tyson LaChapelle (infield single), Seth Reeves (sac bunt, error), and Dominic Gatinella (single) all reached to start the inning. Gatinella's hit drove in a pair. Williams later had a sacrifice fly to score Gatinella, and Larson Lott followed with a run-scoring single.

Trinity added three in the fourth on separate RBI singles from Logan McGann, Williams, and Lott and a run-scoring grounder from Burgos. Four more scored in the sixth on RBI singles from Lott, Cooper Scruggs, Harrelson, and LaChapelle. 

[Catcher Larson Lott helped lead the offensvie explosion in Game 1.]

Lott was 3 for 4 with 1 run and 3 RBI. Lachapelle had a pair of infield hits, 1 R, and 1 RBI. Williams was 2 for 4 with 2 R and 1 RBI to lead the Eagles. 

Game 2: Eagles 9, Bob Jones 2

The offfense continued in Game 2, led by LaChapelle's 3-for-3 performance at the plate. After getting four consecutive infield singles, including a bunt, in Games 1 and 2 of the series, LaChapelle smacked three line drives that found the outfield grass. His second led to a run scored in the 4th, and his third drove in a run in the 6th.

[Tyson LaChapelle: 7 for 11, 2 R, 3 RBI in the three-game series vs. Bob Jones]

LaChapelle also put down a sacrifice bunt in the 5th. 

Trinity scored once in the 2nd (Markeinis Brown sacrifice fly), once in the third (Harrelson grounder), and twice in the 4th (Lachapelle on throwing error).

Reeves smacked a 2-run triple to right in the fifth, and Gatinella followed with a RBI double. With two outs, pinch runner Chance Helvey on third and Williams on first pulled off a double steal on which Helvey scored. 

Drayton Black got the win in relief, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits while fanning 1. Starter Austin Bailey was effective in 3 innings of 1-run, 3-hit ball. Noah Durden and Darren Goeke, Jr. combined for 3.2 innings, 1 run, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Goeke pitched a perfect 7th to close it out. 

Next Up:

The Eagles will face Baptist University of Florida for the first time ever as the new team comes to Trinity Ballyard on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14. Friday's double-header begins at 2:00 p.m., and Saturday's single game starts at 11:00 a.m. TCJ then participates in the NCCAA Division-2 National Invtation Tournament that begins on February 19 in Arlington, Texas. Trinity will play Champion Christian College on Thursday then Randall University and Arlington Baptist University on Friday. The two winningest teams in pool play will battle for the title on Saturday.