The Purdue University Calumet baseball team won its seventh straight game and remained unbeaten with a 14-2 victory in seven innings over Trinity International University Thursday to cap the Peregrines' play in the Russ Mat Invitational in Florida.
Purdue Calumet currently stands as only one of three teams that remain unbeaten in the NAIA.
Purdue Calumet came out strong in the first inning by scoring five runs on six hits, the first a single by senior Micah Rooke (Robertsdale, Ind./Clark). Teammate Cody Dykema (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) then doubled to score the game's first run before senior John Livingston (Highland, Ind./Highland), Anthony Colosimo (Lake Forest, Ill./Loyola Academy), CJ Gear (Valparasio, Ind./Valparaiso) and Nazario Trejo (San Jose, Calif./Piedmont Hills) all followed with RBI hits to give the Peregrines a commanding 5-0 lead.
The Peregrines added six more runs in the second, as Livingston had his second hit of the day with an RBI double to score Dykema, who singled. Colosimo and Rooke each added an RBI single and Trejo and sophomore Cole Garcia (Anaheim Hills, Calf./Canyon) connected for RBI doubles to make the score 11-0.
Starting pitcher Phil Madvek (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) had three scoreless innings until Trinity International (1-16) scored two runs in the fourth inning. Junior A.J. Bruner had a sacrifice fly to put the Trojans on the board and junior John Grotelueschen roped an RBI double to cut the Peregrine lead to 11-2. Madvek would get the win, pitching five innings while giving up just five hits, two runs and striking out two.
Purdue Calumet added a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, as Colosimo drilled his third RBI with a single scoring Dykema, who doubled to open the fifth. In the sixth, Rooke had his third hit of the game with an RBI single and Dykema belted another RBI single to extend the Peregrines' lead to 14-2.
Freshman right-hander Jimmy Skiff (Dyer, Ind./Andrean) came on in relief on the mound for the final two innings, holding the Trojans scoreless while allowing two hits and striking out one.
Dykema led the Peregrines with four hits and two RBI, while Sickles, Rooke (two RBI), Livingston, (two RBI), Colosimo (two RBI), and Trejo (three RBI) each recorded three hits each.
Purdue Calumet baseball returns to action Tuesday, March 17 for their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup as they travel to St. Xavier University to take on the Cougars ina doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The Peregrines' original home opener against Goshen March 15 has been postponed.