by Noah Welch

Hilbert College men’s baseball team gained their first victory of the new season against Wentworth Institute of Technology in Auburndale, Fla. as part of the team’s annual spring road trip. Tristan Aldinger led the charge in the 5-4 victory, recording two hits, scoring a run and driving in Noah Welch on Aldinger’s first triple of the season.

Head coach Drew Fittry said getting off to a good start is always important.

“Feels really good to get the first one out of the way,” he said.

Pitcher Evan Kraus picked up the Hawks’ first win out of the bullpen after starting pitcher Zachary Crane left the game in the second inning due to injury. Pitcher Jordan Brown recorded his first collegiate save as a Hawk.

Wentworth scored early making it 2-0 after just three innings. But the Hawks weren’t out of the fight, as they answered back with two runs of their own making it 2-2. In the bottom of the 4^th Wentworth scored, regaining the lead 3-2. The Hawks erupted for three runs in the top of the 6^th and held on for a 5-4 victory. Jordan Brown came in with the bases loaded and just one out, but it only took one pitch to end the inning. The closer fielded a come-backer and threw to the shortstop Welch fora 1-6-3 double play. Brown went back out in the bottom of the 7^th to face six batters and collect the Hawks first win of the season.

“I feel like we battled all seven innings which allowed us to come out on top,” Fittry said. “Very excited to see what the rest of the season has in store.”