Small, LaMarca key late rallies as Baseball sweeps double header from Trine (Ind.) 7-2, 8-2

By Tim Glon

WESTFIELD, Ind. — Junior Clay Small and senior Jack LaMarca each had big hits to break open tight games and lead the Ohio Northern baseball team to an 8-2, 7-2 double header sweep of Trine (Ind.) Sunday evening at Grand Park.

The Polar Bears run their winning streak to eight games and improve to 9-1 on the season, while the Thunder fall to 4-6 on the year.

In Game 1, Small drilled a 3-run home run in the top of the sixth frame to cap a 5-run rally and give ONU a 7-2 lead.

Junior Nick Guitar went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Junior Nick Eltzroth (3-0) allowed two runs and struck out five in five innings to earn the win and junior Alex Crabtree struck out four batters in two perfect innings of relief.

In Game 2, LaMarca smacked a 2-run triple to start a 5-run eighth inning as ONU broke a 2-2 tie and took a 7-2 lead.

Eltzroth also had an RBI triple as Northern scored twice in the top of the first to take an early lead.

Freshman T.J. Storer also picked up his first collegiate win, striking out six and allowing only four base hits in 5.0 shutout innings of relief.

The Polar Bears will return to action Tuesday with a 4:15 pm contest at area-rival Defiance.