Courtesy Trinity Sports Information

APPLETON, Wis. - Sophomore Matt Sullivan (North Reading, Mass.) scored the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth inning and senior Tim Kiely (Swampscott, Mass.) was dominant again as Trinity continued its remarkable run, topping Cortland St. 2-1 in Game 1 of the 2008 NCAA Baseball Championship. Leading into the game, the teams had a combined 79 wins in their last 79 games. The Bantams run their winning streak to 42-0.

Senior Thomas DiBenedetto (Fort Myers, Fla.) got the scoring started with a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth to give Trinity a 1-0 edge. In the top of the fifth, the Red Dragons answered with an RBI groundout from senior Anthony Coromato to tie the game. Kiely matched scoreless innings with Red Dragon sophomore starter Matt Tone and reliever Ryan Hopper, pitching nine strong innings and fanning 10, setting up Sullivan's game-winning sprint to home.

With two outs in the top of eighth, the Red Dragons loaded the bases after Kiely intentially walked senior Mike Zaccardo, Cortland's top RBI-man. Senior Matt Vitalone hit a sharp grounder up the middle that appeared to be ticketed for center field until DeBenedetto made a diving stop and flipped the ball to junior Ryan Piacentini (Portland, Maine) to get Kiely out of the jam.

Sullivan had two hits and a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt on top of his game-winning run. Sophomore Anderson Gardner had two hits, including an off-the-wall double for the Red Dragons. Tone finished the game with 12 strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Hooper, who allowed the unearned run to score in the ninth, is credited with the loss.

The Bantams take on Lynfield tomm. at 7:45 (CST); 8:45 (EST) in Game 2 of the two-game elimination tournament.