Seven-run third fuels Trojans past South Suburban

The first half of the season has not been easy for the Triton College baseball team. The Trojans have dealt with several injuries and have fallen on the short end of a number of close games, including three consecutive one-run losses entering their Region 4 DI contest April 8 against long-time rival South Suburban College at Symonds-Puckett.

Triton made sure they had plenty of cushion, using a seven-run third inning en route to an 8-3 victory that the team and head coach Harry Torgerson hopes they can use as a springboard to success with the playoffs approaching in early May.

"With the injuries, we haven't played with a full squad all year and we've lost some games because we did not have enough to complete games," Torgerson said.  But this is big win being a Region 4 Division I game. We'll be getting some guys back healthy soon and know we'll get rolling."

A Deeiby Garcia RBI ground out plated home Aiden Knipper to get the Trojans (8-23) on the board in their half of the first.

But it was the seven-run explosion by Triton in the third that broke the game open. Knipper had an RBI single followed by Gunnar Ryans based loaded walk to make it 3-0. Jorgie Vasquez followed with an RBI ground and Keyber Rodriguez kept the inning going with a run-scoring single to left. That set the stage for Donny Tober, who blasted a three-run home run to dead center to cap the frame and give the Trojans a commanding 8-0 advantage.

"We did a good job applying pressure on them and we're able to execute on some hit and runs, the Tober home run was actually on a hit and run," Torgerson said.

Freshman Tommy Haggerty had strong showing allowing two runs in 5.2 innings pitched with six strikeouts to earn the win.

"He did a great job," Torgerson said about his starter. "I thought he was spinning the ball pretty good, kept their hitters off-balance and his fastball was effective, especially early in the game."

Triton used a bi-committee of relievers to record the final 10 outs, including having Tober, who started the game at third base, pitch a scoreless ninth inning.

"That is where we are at from a health standpoint," said Torgerson. "But for now, that's what we have to is play guys at multiple positions. We have to have guys who are primarily pitchers play the field because they are our best athletes."

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