TOWSON, Md. - Sophomore righthander Michael Trionfo earned his first victory of the season as he pitched eight innings of four-hit ball to lead the Tigers (10-16-1, 5-6) to their fourth consecutive victory, a 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Northeastern University (5-18, 1-7) in the second game of their three-game weekend series at John B. Schuerholz Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers, who handed the Huskies a 4-3 loss in the series opener on Friday, snapped a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning by scoring three runs.
Freshman first baseman Hunter Bennett led off the eighth inning with an infield single down the third base line. After senior shortstop Nick Natoli struck out, freshman second baseman Pat Fitzgerald singled to left field. With two runners on base and one out, senior third baseman Chris Wychock drew a walk from junior lefthander Andrew Leenhouts, the Huskies' ace. When Leenhouts walked sophomore catcher Andrew Parker with the bases loaded, Bennett scored the go-ahead run.
Sophomore righthander Dylan Maki was summoned from the bullpen to relieve Leenhouts. Senior designated hitter Austin Harclerode greeted Maki with a double down the rightfield line, scoring two runs to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead.
Maki pitched out of the jam by striking out senior rightfielder Steve Rice and junior centerfielder Ben Winter.
Trionfo, who needed only 77 pitches to complete eight innings, was relieved by senior righthander Zach Umberger in the top of the ninth inning. Junior first baseman Matt Miller led off the inning with a single. After Umberger retired the next two hitters, sophomore rightfielder Pete Castoldi singled to right center, scoring Miller to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Sophomore catcher John Puttress kept the Northeastern hopes alive with a double down the left field line as Castoldi advanced to third base. With the tying runs in scoring position, Umberger nailed down the win by retiring junior third baseman Jimmy Filter on a ground ball to second base.
Trionfo earned his first win of the season by holding Northeastern to two runs on four hits. He walked one batter and struck out three.
Leenhouts, who dropped to 1-4 on the season, allowed five runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out eight in a game that was played in a very brisk one hour, 50 minutes.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Tigers took a 1-0 lead against Leenhouts. With one out, Fitzgerald lined a single up the middle. With Wychock at the plate, Fitzgerald stole second base. After Wychock grounded out to third base, Parker lined a double down the left field line, scoring Fitzgerald with the first run of the game. After Parker moved to third base on a balk, Leenhouts struck out Harclerode to end the inning.
Once the Tigers took a 1-0 lead, Trionfo and Leenhouts engaged in a pitcher's duel.
After retiring the first six hitters he faced, Trionfo gave up a leadoff single to Filter in the third inning. However, Trionfo got freshman shortstop Oliver Hart to hit a ground ball to Natoli, who turned into a double play.
Through five innings, Trionfo pitched to the minimum 15 batters, needing only 38 pitches to shut out the Huskies.
After allowing a first inning run, Leenhouts retired the next 11 hitters in a row as he matched Trionfo out-for-out. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Winter lined a single to centerfield. However, Leenhouts picked him off first base to end the threat.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Trionfo ran into trouble for the first time in the game. Junior third baseman Alan Pastrynak started the rally with a single to left field. Freshman centerfielder Aaron Barbosa dropped down a perfect bunt along the third base line for a hit to give the Huskies two runners on base. When Trionfo walked Miller on a 3-1 pitch, the Huskies had the bases loaded.
Facing senior leftfielder Jeff Dunlap with the bases loaded, Trionfo got ahead in the count with two strikes. But, Dunlap drilled a 1-2 pitch into centerfield for a two-run single, giving Northeastern a 2-1 lead. Trionfo pitched out of the jam by retiring sophomore designated hitter Jon Leroux on a ground ball back to the mound.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers threatened to tie the score. Bennett led off with a single to centerfield. After Natoli bunted him to second base, Fitzgerald drew a walk. With two runners on base, Leenhouts came back and retired Wychock on a pop up before Parker grounded out to end the rally.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Rice belted a triple over the head of Barbosa in centerfield. It was his third triple in three games. Rice alertly scored the tying run moments later when Winter hit a soft ground ball up the first base line.
Trionfo retired the final seven hitters he faced.
Fitzgerald and Bennett led the Tigers with two hits each as Towson outhit Northeastern, 8-7. Fitzgerald also walked, scored two runs and stole a base. Parker and Harclerode each doubled and drove in a pair of runs.
Seven different Huskies had base hits.
The Tigers and the Huskies will close out their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Senior righthander Charlie Cononie of Towson will face senior righthander Desmond McNelis in the series finale.
