Thomas homers twice, Klinehoffer and Matthew Burkett hit home runs to lead Baseball in 14-3 victory over Trine (Ind.)

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Junior Caleb Thomas (Strongsville) crushed two home runs and junior Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville/John Glenn) and freshman Matthew Burkett (Maumee) each hit home runs to lead the Ohio Northern baseball team to a 14-3 non-conference victory over Trine (Ind.) on Monday afternoon at Wander Field.

The Polar Bears got back to their winning ways and improved to 11-7 overall, while the Thunder dropped to 7-8.

Klinehoffer went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored, while Thomas was 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Klinehoffer wasted no time getting ONU on the scoreboard, jacking the second pitch of the game over the left field fence to give ONU a 1-0 lead.

Minutes later, Thomas stepped up to the plate and hit a home run over the left field fence to push the lead to 2-0 after one inning.

With freshman Tyler Randick (Flushing, Mich.) on base in the bottom of the second inning, Klinehoffer singled to left field to plate the freshman and extend the lead to 3-0.

The younger Burkett opened the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo bomb over the left field fence to open an 8-run fourth inning for ONU.

Seniors Kyle Schlade (Hamilton/Talawanda) and Jason Burkett (Maumee), sophomore Phil Buckingham (Wayne/Elmwood), Randick, Klinehoffer, Thomas, and Matthew Burkett all scored in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open the game and give Northern a comfortable 11-0 lead.

With Klinehoffer on base in the bottom of the fifth inning, Thomas drilled his second home run of the game to widen ONU's lead to 13-0.

Trine got one back in the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run, but ONU answered in the bottom half of the inning as Klinehoffer singled and plated senior Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) to give ONU a 14-1 lead.

The Thunder added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning but couldn't get any closer as ONU went on to win the contest 14-3.

Jason Burkett earned the victory on the mound for ONU, improving to 2-0 on the season, while senior T.J. Storer (Loveland/Moeller) picked up his league-leading sixth save of the season.

The Polar Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Denison to take on the Big Red at 5 p.m.