Trinity outlasts DePauw 3-1 in pitchers' duel

It took 11 innings, but the Trinity University baseball team scored a run in eighth to send the game to extra innings and then scored two unearned runs in the 11th to defeat DePauw University 3-1 in game three of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament (SCAC) Saturday, April 26 at Gary Wright Field in Danville, Ky.

Both teams struggled to score runs as Trinity's Brian Oates and DePauw's Jeremy Alland were in control from the start. In the bottom of the fifth DePauw got a two-out run-scoring single from Eric Reese to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

That is all DePauw (33-10) would get as Oates allowed only two hits over the next five innings. The right-hander got some help from his offense in the eighth. Following a lead-off strikeout, Dylan Early singles to centerfield. Shortstop Stosh Hoover then tripled to right-center scoring Early and the game was tied at one.

Both teams went scoreless the next two innings, but in the top of the 11th, Evan Jones drew a lead-off walk off DePauw reliever Paul Rodenhouse. A sacrifice bunt moved Jones to second and the Tigers then intentionally walked Kyle Felix. Catcher Steven Ramos then hit a ground ball to Reese at shortstop who threw to second for the lead out, but the throw for the double play went into the dugout scoring Andrew Lawson who ran for Jones. Another error later in the inning scored Ramos and the Tigers led DePauw 3-1.

Clint Robertson relieved Oates in the 11th and retired the Tigers in order to seal the win for his second save of the season. In his 10 innings of work, Oates (7-2) allowed only five hits and one run while striking out 13 and walking four. Rodenhouse suffered the loss allowing two unearned runs in two innings to fall to 2-2. Alland went nine innings and also allowed only one run on five hits with 12 strikeouts and only one walk.

Early and Hoover were the only two players on either side to finish with multiple hits. Both went 2 for 5 with Early scoring a run and Hoover driving him in. Five different DePauw players had a hit each in the defeat.

Trinity (31-12) will advance to Sunday and await its opponent, which will be determined in the next two games of the tournament later today.