Patience at the plate and solid pitching led to a 6-3 win as TCJ Eagles Baseball won the opener of a South Region double-header at Baptist University of Florida. Baptist, though, got a spectacular pitching performance in Game 2 to earn the split with a 5-0 shutout. The teams split the 6-game season series with the road team winning 2 of 3 in each weekend meeting. 

Game 1: Trinity 6, Baptist Florida 3

Trailing 2-0 as they came to bat in the bottom of the 5th, Trinity rallied to take the lead using that patience and a little assistance from Baptist. Gadriel Burgos started the rally with a 1-out single. Larson Lott (walk) and Dominic Gattinella (hit batsman) both reached to load the bases. A passed ball allowed all runers to advance with Burgos scoring. Jacob Burke then walked to reload the bases.

Tyson LaChapelle grounded into a fielder's choice, and on the play, Lott crossed the plate to tie the score at 2-2. Richaun Amaro then reached on an error, and Gatinella came in with the eventual game-winning run. 

In the 6th, Trinity added insurance when Lott's double brought in Gavin Williams (single) and Burke's errant ground ball allowed Burgos (double) to score. LaChapelle added the final run in the 7th when he was hit by a pitch, advanced first to third on Amaro's base hit, and scored on a wild pitch. 

Jacob Brigman pitched 6 innings for the win, allowing 3 earned runs on 9 hits; he walked no one and struck out 4. Drew Billings pitched a perfect 7th with a strikeout, groundout, and flyout to earn the save.

Baptist's Korbin Odom hit a two-run single in the bottom of the second, and Cale Barnes smacked a solo home run in the 6th. Barnes was 3 for 3 and scored 2 of Baptist's 3 runs.

Burgos was 2 for 3 and scored twice, and 4 different TCJ Eagles drove in runs for the win.

Game 2: Baptist Florida 5, Trinity 0

Baptist's Hagan Smith held Trinity to only 3 hits in a complete-game win. Burke doubled, and Williams and Darren Goeke, Jr. each singled. 

Trinity's Trey Rosado started and allowed only 2 earned runs on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3. Jackson Taylor had another brilliant outing in relief: 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2K. 

Six different Baptist players hit safely, 5 scored a run each, and 3 combined for 4 RBI.

Next Up

Trinity will visit NAIA Florida Memeorial Uninversity for a mid-week double-header on Tuesday, March 31. After 10 days off, the Eagles will then travel to Toccoa Falls College for a big three-game South Region series on Friday and Saturday, April 10 and 11. Friday will see a single 9-inning game, and Saturday features a two-game matninee beginning at 12:00 noon.