V-Hawks drop first CCAC Series 3-1 at Trinity Christian

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The V-Hawk baseball team headed to Illinois on Sunday to compete in their first conference competition of the 2026 season. The competition featured a four-game series across two days. Throughout the competitions, the V-Hawks came up short, dropping three of the four games. Despite the losses, the V-Hawks played a very closely-contested series with the Trolls. The V-Hawks drop to 2-10 overall and 1-3 in conference competitions. 

GAME ONE - VU 2, TC 4

In their first game of the weekend, the V-Hawks dropped to the Trolls 4-2. The V-Hawks struck first, scoring in the fourth inning. Ryder Mortensen singled to run in Xavier Gilmore to take the 1-0 lead. Trinity Christian responded with three runs across the fifth and sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Esteban Sanchez singled to run in Caden Besemer, bringing the score within one run at 3-2. Trinity Christian scored one more run in the top of the seventh, and the V-Hawks struggled to score in the bottom of the inning, falling 4-2. 

The V-Hawks recorded seven hits in the game on thirty at-bat appearances. RBIs came from Ryder Mortensen and Esteban Sanchez. Anthony Sanchez pitched the first five innings of the game, allowing seven hits and three runs, pitching 55 strikes. Luke Widerholt closed the game, pitching four innings and allowing only three hits and one run. 

GAME TWO - VU 3, TC 2

In the second game of the series, the V-Hawks claimed victory over the Trolls. Trinity Christian scored first on a double that ran in two runners. They scored their two runs both in the top of the fourth inning. The V-Hawks reponded quickly, scoring in the bottom of the fourth on a Ryder Mortensen double. His double ran in Nathan Faust. In the bottom of the fifth, Xavier Gilmore swung for a homer to right field, running in Matt Monaghan and himself. 

The only hits of the game came from Xavier Gilmore, Nathan Faust, and Ryder Mortensen. Jomar Guzman pitched all seven innings for the V-Hawks, only giving up one hit. The one hit that Jomar Guzman gave up allowed two runs, but he pitched a nearly perfect game. He threw for 56 strikes on 100 pitches and faced 25 batters throughout the game. 

GAME THREE - VU 2, TC 3

The V-Hawks came up just short in the third game of the series after returning for a second day of competition. Trinity Christian scored the first runs of the game, picking up two in the top of the sixth. The V-Hawks responded instantly, picking up two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Xavier Gilmore ran in Derick Cossio and loaded the bases. Nathan Faust was walked and Sean Rooney scored on being advanced from loaded bases. No scoring came from either team again until the top of the ninth when the Trolls singled to run in their winning run. The V-Hawks got one on base in the ninth, but they couldn't close it out, falling 3-2 after nine innings. 

Xavier Gilmore led from the plate, picking up two hits and an RBI on four at-bat appearances. Cody Lozano, Derick Cossio, and Carson Reinhardt each had a hit as well. Brandon Shepherd pitched for six innings, allowing two runs and six hits. Adam Olson closed the game, allowing one run and three hits in the final three innings. 

GAME FOUR - VU 3, TC 8

In their final game of the series, the V-Hawks suffered their largest loss. Trinity Christian scored early, picking up two runs in the first inning, followed by four more runs in the second inning. In the bottom of the fourth, the V-Hawks scored their first run on an Esteban Sanchez single that ran in Xavier Gilmore. Trinity Christian responded with two more runs in the fifth inning. Esteban Sanchez ran in Jaden Vanderwiere for scoring in the sixth inning, and Xavier Gilmore ran in Hunter Hess in the seventh inning, but it wasn't quite enough for the V-Hawks. 

The V-Hawks came together for 10 hits in the game on 28 appearances. Xavier Gilmore, Esteban Sanchez, and Dane Mediger each contributed two hits for the V-Hawks. Other hits came from Jaden Vanderwiere, Eli Tucker, Nathan Faust, and Caden Besemer. Nick Colker pitched the first two innings, allowing six hits and six runs. Aiden Murphy came in to pitch the next three innings, allowing two runs and four hits. Ryan Gordon and Michael Conroy each pitched on inning, allowing zero runs for either pitcher. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will appear in their next conference series on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14 when they head to Indiana South Bend. Check the website for gametime details and more information on how to follow along.