ANGOLA, Ind. – The Calvin University baseball team continued its strong start to MIAA play with a 7-3 win at Trine University on Friday to open the three-game weekend series.
 
Calvin (14-11, 7-2 MIAA) built a 5-0 lead early behind six shutout innings from Nolan Coil (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) and held off several Trine (9-16, 3-5 MIAA) rallies in the late innings to finish off the win.
 
The Knights jumped in front early as they scored in each of the first three innings to take a 4-0 lead. Ryan Tschirhart (Clinton, Mich./Clinton) opened the scoring with an RBI-double in the first inning and the Knights added two more runs in the second on a two-run double from Gabe Bonemer (Okemos, Mich./Okemos). Matt Reynolds (Hopkins, Mich./Hopkins) drove in the Knights' run in the third on a single up the middle that scored Tschirhart to push the Calvin lead to 4-0.
 
Calvin added to the lead in the top half of the sixth inning on an RBI-single from Ryan Brown (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia) that scored Bonemer from second base to give the Knights a 5-0 advantage.
 
That proved more than enough support for Coil, who worked around two early errors and allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out three to get through six innings unscathed.
 
The Thunder scored two runs in the seventh inning on a pair of wild pitches by reliever Drew Diehl (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Catholic Central) to cut the lead to 5-2, but the Knights closed the inning with a big double play to keep the lead at three and then answered right back in the top half of the eighth inning with a two-run home run by Parker Seth (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian). The home run was the first collegiate hit of Seth's career and his first home run.
 
Kyle Koning (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) came out of the bullpen for the final two innings, allowing one run to score on a bases loaded wild pitch in the ninth before striking out the final batter with the tying run on deck to secure the win.
 
Coil's (5-1) six shutout innings pushed his shutout streak to start MIAA play to 21 consecutive innings through three starts and moved his record to 3-0 in league play. He has allowed only 11 hits and two walks so far in those 21 innings.
 
Bonemer led the offense with four hits and added two runs scored and two RBI. Tschirhart also had two hits for the Knights, who finished the game with 11 total hits.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "Great start to the weekend getting a 'W' on the road," Calvin head baseball coach Joel Schipper said. "Another phenomenal start from Nolan Coil. I couldn't be more proud of Parker Seth for coming up clutch in a big spot to extend the lead. He has been working his tail off and it was great to see it come to fruition."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin baseball will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, April 12) when these two teams finish the weekend series with a doubleheader at Calvin starting at 1:00 PM.