Baseball
 

March 12, 2009

Tigers Open Irish Classic With Loss to Illinois State

San Antonio - Trinity's baseball team opened up the 2009 Irish Classic Tournament with an 11-6 loss to Illinois State University on Thursday afternoon at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

Trinity (8-11) and Illinois State were scheduled to open the tournament last night, but area weather forced the game to be postponed until this afternoon. 

The Redbirds started the three-hour game by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The Tigers responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Shortstop Stosh Hoover tripled down the right-field line to bring home a pair of runs. It marked Hoover’s third triple of the campaign. Designated hitter Jordan Pennington hit a SAC fly then drove in Hoover on a sacrifice fly.

Illinois State scored a run in the top of the second and third innings to extend the lead, but the Tigers made it 4-6 with a run in the bottom of the third. Pennington hit the first of two home runs in the game, a solo shot down the right-field line. Illinois State took a 9-4 lead with two runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth.

Pennington swatted his fourth home run of the season - and second of the game - in the sixth inning, hitting the fair pole in right field. Center fielder John Paillet picked up an RBI with a fielder’s choice and the score was 6-9. But the Redbirds put up a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings to end the scoring.

In the game, Pennington batted 2-3 with three RBIs and two runs. Hoover was 1-4 with two RBIs, a triple and one run.  Paillet, who stole two bases (his fifth of the season), batted 2-4 with one RBI.

Pitcher Eric Binder started the game (3.1 innings pitched) and took the loss, falling to 0-3 on the year.  Evan Bronson came on in the ninth, striking out two batters to close out the game.

Illinois State first baseman Evan Kohli hit 4-5 with three RBIs, a double, one walk and three runs scored.  Mike Stalowy was 2-2 with three runs scored, reaching base six times in the game.

Trinity will take on Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Irish Classic. Before then, however, the Tigers start a two game SCAC series with the Millsaps College Majors at E.M. Stevens Field. Trinity hosts Millsaps in single games on Saturday and Sunday, with 1 p.m. starting times. Thursday night’s home game with Wabash (Ind.) was canceled because of the weather.