Mountaineers shock nationally-ranked Trinity in extra-innings thriller on Friday

SAN ANTONIO — Shawn Rivera delivered the decisive blow with a two-run double in the 11th inning as Schreiner University upset nationally-ranked Trinity University 6-4 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball action Friday night.

The Mountaineers (10-19, 8-15 SCAC) rallied from a 4-1 deficit to knock off the conference-leading Tigers (21-8, 16-4 SCAC) in the opener of their three-game weekend series at Trinity Baseball Field.

Grant Beaver (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out two. Beaver’s clutch performance capped a stellar night for the Schreiner bullpen, as starter Josh Marentes struggled early before Nolan Sauceda delivered seven strong innings of one-run baseball.

Rivera paced the Mountaineers with three hits and four RBIs, including the game-tying double in the seventh inning that scored Aiden Brouhard. Daniel Rodriguez added two hits and three RBIs in the victory.

Trailing 4-2 in the seventh, Schreiner tied the game when Rodriguez doubled to right center, driving in Rivera and Brouhard before being thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple.

The teams traded scoreless frames until the 11th when Blair and Barrera reached base to set up Rivera’s heroics. The freshman outfielder, who entered the game hitting just .256, drove a pitch deep to center field to score both runners.

Trinity’s Will Hellings (1-1) took the loss despite striking out six Mountaineers in 4.2 innings of relief.

The victory marks Schreiner’s first win over Trinity this season and continues a recent upswing for the Mountaineers, who have now won three of their last four games after struggling through much of the early schedule.

The series continues Saturday with a single game at 2 p.m.