The Cougars hosted Henryville on Monday evening, looking to repeat what they did last year against the Hornets in a 9-6 win. Unfortunately, the Hornets would get the better of Trinity, winning the matchup 5-3. Henryville picked up their first win of the 2023-24 season.

Trinity Head Coach Ben Kleber spoke on the outcome with the Hornets.

“Henryville’s pitcher did a good job getting ahead and we just weren’t aggressive at the plate,” Kleber said. “We are looking at too many strikes right now and not putting the ball in play enough. All five of their runs scored on free bases and we talk about that a lot.”

Jack Bridges started the game for the Hornets, pitching six innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 11 batters for Henryville. Chase Bode got the ball for the Cougars, lasting two innings, allowing two hits and four earned runs, striking out two battters and walking three.

Kowan Gross relieved Bode, pitching the next four innings, allowing no runs, and no hits, striking out six Henryville batters. Kleber spoke about Gross’s performance on the mound.

Kowan came in and did a nice job in relief, giving us a chance,” Kleber said. “It was just a little too late tonight. We will try and get back after it against Charlestown.”

Henryville scored a run in the first inning with a single from Chase Byrd. In the third frame, the Hornets scored their second run on a wild pitch, before getting walked in for the third run.

The fourth run was scored on another wild pitch, before the final Henryville run came from a groundout to the pitcher.

Trinity got their three runs in the final two innings of the game. Jonah Harker drew a walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jackson Trueblood stole home for the first run of the game for the Cougars.

Trueblood then picked up an RBI from a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. The walk scored Blaine Wehmiller to make it a 5-2 ballgame. Drake Goodpaster picked up the final run with a sacrifice fly to score Bode Brooks.

Coach Kleber spoke about what he likes from the Cougars in the first couple weeks of the season.

“I have liked that we are battling to stay in games, we just have to find a way to finish games off,” Kleber said. “Our pitchers have thrown well, we just need to find a way to cut down on the walks so we can get a little deeper in games.”

Trinity travels to Bedford on Thursday for a matchup with the Stars before hosting Brownstown Central on Saturday in a doubleheader that begins at 10 a.m.

The second game is expected to start at noon.

Henryville (1-4) at Trinity Lutheran (1-4)

Henryville; 5

Trinity Lutheran; 3

Hits: Trinity — Gross (2). Henryville — White, McAfee, Byrd. RBI: Trinity — Trueblood, Goodpaster. Henryville — Byrd, Cissell.

WP: Bridges, Henryville. LP: Bode, Trinity Lutheran.