Crooked numbers in four consecutive innings and solid starting pitching led TCJ Eagles Baseball to a 10-6 win over NAIA Cornerstone University in the opening game of the 2026 Russ-Matt Invitational in Orlando. The Eagles sored at least twice in innings 2, 3, 4, and 5 and added one more in the 6th. The bullpen fended off a late comeback effort to secure the win.

After a scoreless first inning and a half, the Eagles rallied for three in the bottom of the 2nd. Dominic Gattinella and Logan McGann each slapped a run-scoring single, and Gattinella scored on a wild pitch. In the 3rd, Richaun Amaro's stolen base drew a wild throw that allowed couretsey runner Morgan Muhlbauer to score from third. Amaro then stole third and came in a sacrificie fly from Jacob Burke. 

An errant grounder off Gadriel Burgos's bat drove in McGann (single), and Cooper Scruggs (hit batsman) crossed on Burke's base hit to make the score 7-0 after 4.

With the lead now at 7-1, TCJ added 2 more in the 5th on a base hit from Burgos and a sacrifice fly from Larson Lott. The final run came in the 6th when Gattinella brought in Tyson LaChapelle with a sacrifice fly of his own. 

Overall, the Eagles pounded out 12 hits and drew 8 walks and 4 hit batsmen for 24 total base runners. They took advantage of a few mistakes in the field to aid in the offensive outburst.

Meanwhile, Jacob Brigman pitched 6.2 solid innings, allowing 3 unearned runs on only 2 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 9. Only 1 run scored with Brigman on the mound.

Cornerstone rallied for 5 runs between the 7th and 8th innings to make the score 10-6. A two-run double from Drew Goodman in the 7th and RBI singles from Luke Griffith and Chace Sorensen with a sacrifice fly in between accounted for the runs, and Cornerstone loaded the bases to bring the tying run to the plate. Andrew Mohler ended the threat with a harmless fly ball to Darren Goeke, Jr. in left. Amaro then pitched a scoreless 9th, striking out the final two men and stranding a runnner on first to end the game.

McGann was 3 for 6 with 1 RBI, 3 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored. Scruggs, Burke, and Gattinella each had 2 hits while Burgos, LaChapelle, and Goeke also hit safely. Burke and Gattinella each drove in 2; McGann, Burgos, and Lott all drove in 1. 

[Logan McGann was the offensive star on Thursday: 3 for 6, 3 SB, RBI, 2 R]

The Eagles will play twice on Saturday against two NAIA teams from Iowa. First, Trinity will play as the visiting team against Dordt University at 2:30 p.m. Then, Northwestern University is the home team against TCJ beginning at 6:15 p.m. 

Trinity will return to Orlando on March 12 and 13 to face three more NAIA opponents in Valley City State University on Thursday and Bellvue University and Mayville State University on Friday.