Trojan News

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - NAIA No. 20 Trevecca (0-1) fell 8-2 in their season opener to No. 3 Embry-Riddle (1-1) at Auburn University Montgomery's Senators Stadium. It was the first game as Trevecca's Head Baseball Coach for Jonathan Burton.

Junior Justin Zinkovich pitched seven complete innings for Embry-Riddle, leading the Eagles to an 8-2 win over the Trojans.

The Eagles offensive began to move in third inning as Bryan Aldrdige led the inning off with a single up the middle. Warmoth followed that with his first hit of the game with a bloop single down the right field line. Both runners came in on a throwing error by Trevecca on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Steele. Steele advanced across the dish two batters later, as Pat McCrory picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

The Trojans answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third inning as Marty Parks led off with a triple deep in right field. He scored on the next at-bat as Chris Lowe hit a single down the right field line.

Despite allowing runners on base, Zinkovich shut down the Trojans' offense key ground outs.

Trevecca Nazarene added one more run in the fifth inning before the Eagles mounted a three-run sixth inning. Chase Birdwell doubled to left center for the Trojans. Ross Muirhead grounded out to short; as Birdwell advanced to third. Parks provided the RBI power as he flied out to centerfield to score Birdwell from third.

Wesley Griggs (0-1) started for the Trojans and took the loss. The 10-game winner last year allowed six hits and one walks over five innings of work. He gave up five runs, four earned while striking out six. Chase Dixon followed with three innings of work. He allowed three runs, one earned. He walked five batters and gave up one hit. Chris Sutherland pitched thefinal inning in perfect fashion. Brian Dirheimer worked behind the plate the entire game.

After pitching seven complete, Zinkovich was relieved in the eighth inning by Steve Ortman. The starter had six strikeouts in the game, giving up three walks, six hits and two runs. Ortman shutdown the Trojans in the final two innings, allowing one hit and picking up his first strikeout as an Eagle.

Trevecca scored their two runs on seven hits with four walks and committed two errors. The Trojans left nine runners on base in the game. Chris Lowe was 2-for-5 with an RBI, no other Trojan had more than one hit. The Eagles scored their eight runs on seven hits and had one error.

Trevecca and Embry-Riddle will play a second game on at Noon.