LEWISTON, Maine – The Trinity College Baseball team collected a 13-7 victory over host Bates College in the opening game of a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) series at Leahey Field Thursday afternoon.
 
After three scoreless innings, the Bantams took the lead in the top of the fourth as Dylan Schnitzer scored on a Bobcats fielding error, followed by an RBI sac fly from Aidan Stern. Aidan Stevenson poked an RBI double into the left-center gap to hand Trinity the 3-0 lead. Tyler Bernstein blasted a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
The Bobcats chipped away at the lead with a three-run fifth inning, featuring a two-run double from Ben Gesmondi and an RBI fielder's choice from Joe Yoxall to close the gap to 4-3. Trinity regained control with an RBI sac fly from Luis Saldivia in the sixth, an RBI groundout from Andrew Park in the seventh, and an RBI single from Ryder Aubin in the eighth to hold an 8-3 lead.
 
Bates responded again with four runs in the bottom of the eighth, powered by a three-run home run from David Swift, to narrow the lead to 8-7. The Bantams put the game away in the top of the ninth with a five-run frame, beginning with RBI singles from Schnitzer and Park. With the bases loaded, Brett Stone cleared the basepaths with a three-run double down the left field line to send Trinity to the 13-7 win.
 
The Bantams racked up 16 hits in the win with Bernstein, Schnitzer, Park, Stevenson, Aubin and Adam Niman all delivering multi-hit efforts. Trinity starter Joseph Capano (4-4) picked up his fourth straight victory on the mound, allowing six hits with two strikeouts.
 
The Bantams and Bobcats will return to the field for a NESCAC doubleheader at Leahey Field Friday afternoon. First pitch for game one is scheduled for Noon.
 
TRINITY ATHLETICS