Box Score CARY, N.C. – Trevecca Nazarene University's historic 2020-21 baseball season took many twists and turns along its 94-day, 49 game journey, but the program's first-ever trip to the College World Series ultimately ended on Monday with Northwest Nazarene University (35-9) handing the Trojans a 9-3 loss.
POSTGAME PRESSERS
Game One – Coach Chase Sain and Ethan Harrison
Watch On-Demand
Read
Game Two – Coach Chase Sain and Chase Haley
Watch On-Demand
Read
Much like game one, Trevecca led for the majority of the way, but a seven-run seventh inning for the Nighthawks pushed NNU through to the next round.
Here's how things finished at Coleman Field on Monday.
FIRST INNING (0-0, tied)
The Trojans switched dugouts and grabbed their bats first for this elimination game. Shawn Wallwork and Ethan Harrison both singled in the opening frame, but neither would advance past second.
The Nighthawks went quickly in the bottom half of the inning, as Trojan starter Chase Haley used just 10 pitches to shut down NNU in order.
SECOND INNING (2-0, TNU leads)
Joseph McNamee led off the second with a single, but consecutive strikeouts led most to believe the Trojans were to be held scoreless. Shawn Wallwork had other plans. After Andru Becker (HBP) and Braden Odom (Walk) loaded the bases, the Trojans first baseman stepped in and delivered a two-run single up the middle to put the Trojans ahead 2-0.
Haley allowed the leadoff batter to reach in the second, but would quickly retire the Nighthawks afterward to move things to the third.
THIRD INNING (2-0, TNU leads)
Both teams were retired in order in the third, as this time Haley needed just five pitches to get off the rubber.
FOURTH INNING (3-0, TNU leads)
As they had all season, the Trojans seemingly got better hitting with two outs. The same was true in the fourth when Braden Odom tripled in Becker who reached via a throwing error to put the Trojans up 3-0.
Despite the Nighthawks collecting their first hit of the day in the fourth, nothing else would come of it for NNU in the fourth as they left the bases loaded.
FIFTH INNING (3-2, TNU leads)
The fifth inning saw the Trojans retired in order while the Nighthawks bats finally came alive. A two-run single for NNU pulled the Nighthawks to within one, but Trojan reliever Davis Jackson relied on a strikeout and fly out to end the inning.
SIXTH INNING (3-2, TNU leads)
For both squads, the bats stayed silent in the sixth as John O'Dwyer's single to center field provided the only base runner for either team.
SEVENTH INNING (9-3, NNU leads)
Facing a new arm for the first time, the Trojans were unable to figure out the NNU reliever and were again retired in order.
Northwest Nazarene gained control and ultimately provided the knockout punch to the Trojans with their seven-run frame. A pair of two-run doubles, a two-run single, and an RBI triple for the Nighthawks gave the home team plenty of breathing room down the stretch.
The Trojans allowed seven or more runs in a single inning just once this season when Davenport produced an eight-run second inning at Jackson Field on March 12.
EIGHTH INNING (9-3, NNU leads)
The eighth saw a pair of singles for both sides, but not much else as the Trojans headed to the ninth for one last chance.
NINTH INNING (9-3, NNU wins)
The Trojans sent a pair of pinch hitters to the plate in the ninth to try and disrupt the NNU reliever on for his third inning of work. Dalton Mauldin struck out swinging, while Zeke Lecomte fouled out leaving the final at-bat of the season to Braden Odom. Odom grounded out to second base to end the Trojans' historic College World Series run.
SURGE BY NIGHTHAWKS
Trevecca allowed nine or more runs in a game just five times this season. In games where their opponent scored nine or more runs, TNU was 1-4. Meaning, when Trevecca held their opponents to eight or fewer runs they were 35-9.
Northwest Nazarene - L 9-3
Davenport – W 11-9
Kentucky Wesleyan – L 9-7
Davenport – L 13-12
Davenport – L 12-0
Northwest Nazarene scoring seven runs in the seventh inning was the second most runs given up in an inning all season. Only Davenport, who scored eight runs in the top of the second in a 12-0 win on March 12, scored more in an inning. Aside from NNU, only one did another team score even six runs in an inning. That was also Davenport in their 13-12 win over TNU.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Trevecca won the 2021 Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament title, claiming the tournament at Prasco Park (Mason, Ohio) with a 4-0 record. Trevecca swept through the tourney defeating Malone 4-1, Kentucky Wesleyan 6-5, Hillsdale 9-1, and Tiffin 7-6.
Trevecca advanced to the 2021 NCAA Division II Midwest Region, their first trip to region play in the NCAA Era. The Trojans won the region, going 4-1 at Lou Brock Sports Complex on the campus of Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Mo.)
Trevecca entered Sunday's region championship on an 11-game win streak. When Davenport University upended the Trojans 6-2, it forced an if-necessary game, a game the Trojans won 11-9 for the championship and their trip to Cary.
The run through the region saw the Trojans win their opener 8-3 over Quincy, then a 7-4 victory against Lindenwood, and a 9-4 beating of Northwood. Davenport ended the perfect postseason for Trevecca with a 6-2 win. The Trojans answered with their win, 11-9 for the title. In the title game, Trevecca center fielder Braden Odom hit for the cycle to fuel the Trojan offense. Odom went 4-5 with four runs scored and four RBI. Joseph McNamee was 3-5 with a double and two RBI.
Trevecca coach Chase Sain, in his first year as head coach, replaced Ryan Schmalz on August 17, 2020, following the August 5, 2020, resignation for coach Schmalz.
This is the first Trevecca baseball team and first Great Midwest Athletic Conference baseball team to advance to the final eight teams.
The 2020 Trevecca team was, ironically, in North Carolina when their season ended due to COVID restrictions. They were 6-11 at the time. The team traveled to North Carolina for a week of games, but first weather and then COVID ended their stay without playing a contest. Now they are back in North Carolina, but this time for their first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series.
The team has 15 seniors, 10 of which are super seniors who decided to return this year when their original senior season was interrupted abruptly.
Trevecca has two seven-year collegiate players – Dalton Mauldin and John Anderson. Both were given medical hardship for a sixth year and then COVID extended their career another year.
Trevecca had 11 players sit out the conference tournament due to a positive covid infection and subsequent contact tracing, making their 4-0 run to the championship all the more impressive.
NEARLY UNCHARTED WATERS
The Trevecca baseball team is only the second Trojan squad to advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship scene. The 2019 men's golf team advanced after placing fifth in the regional tournament and went on to finish fifth in the country at the National Championships. They are the only Trevecca team to win the region.
Three individual Trojan athletes have advanced to their respective national championships. Caroline Hampton Cole (Cross Country – 2015-16), Alexa Rippy (Women's Golf – 2017-18), and Logan Rodgers (Indoor Track – 2015-16).
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
Visit the Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com
Click for Live Stats / Live Video of home games
Follow on Social Media -Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Photos | Mobile Updates | Free Newsletter | Mobile App
#ChristianScholarAthlete
