Story by Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo College baseball team split a doubleheader with Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) foe Trine University Sunday, May 4 winning game one 13-2 and falling in game two 5-4. Kalamazoo's victory in game one clinched the fourth and final spot in the MIAA Tournament; a tournament K has never qualified for until this season.
"We set making the MIAA Tournament as a goal for our season," Kalamazoo Head Coach Mike Ott said. "I thought we had a good shot midway through the season. We got some help and took care of business today. It is a great stepping stone for our program."
Junior Adam McDowell earned the win in game one surrendering six hits and one earned run over six innings of work while striking out three. Senior Marc Zughaib, juniors Scott Devine and Carter Chandler, and freshman Ian Kobernick all collected three hits in the contest.
After Trine got a run in the top of the first, Kalamazoo responded with four runs of its own in the home half of the inning. After Zughaib and freshman Mitchell VanKoevering reached base via the error, Devine singled to center field scoring Zughaib. Kobernick drove in two runs with a single later in the inning and junior Joey Aliotta grounded out to the pitcher scoring another run.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, Kalamazoo knocked around Trine starting pitcher Vinny Slobodecki for three more runs. Freshman Brett Garwood doubled down the left field line scoring two runs. Zughaib followed with a double to right field scoring Garwood.
Leading 7-1 in the fourth, K extended its lead further scoring six runs on seven hits. Trine would add a singe run in the top of the sixth.
In total, Kalamazoo notched 13 runs on 17 hits with one error while Trine had two runs on eight hits and one error.
In game two, Kalamazoo again put up four runs in the first inning. Zughaib and VanKoevering started the frame off with singles while Devine followed with a bunt single of his own to load the bases.
Kobernick grounded into a double play but did score Zughaib from third. After a single from freshman Jack Clark, junior John Jackoviak doubled home Clark for the fourth and final run of the first inning.
Kalamazoo could not hold the lead, however, as Trine scored two runs in the second, a run in the fifth, and a run in the sixth to tie the game. The Thunder then used a Hornet error to plate the winning run in the top of the seventh. The Hornets got a runner to third in the home half of the inning but failed to score.
Kalamazoo totaled four runs on seven hits in game two while Trine had five runs on nine hits. Jackoviak was the lone Hornet to have multiple hits in game two.
The split with Trine also marked the final home games for Zughaib, K's lone senior. The Detroit Catholic Central alumnus went 4-7 on the day with one RBI and three runs scored.
"We are not in this position as a program without Marc [Zughaib] said Ott. "He has been a phenomenal ambassador for our program. I'm excited we extended his season a little longer."
Kalamazoo finishes its regular season with a 17-23 record overall and a 15-13 mark in MIAA play. Picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, Kalamazoo finishes fourth in the conference and will play 6-time conference champion Adrian in the MIAA Tournament Wednesday.