The Trinity baseball team is two victories from a perfect regular season and a national record after defeating Brandeis 1-0 and 7-4 in a doubleheader Sunday in Hartford.

 

The Bantams (32-0) will be at Wesleyan University in Middletown for a doubleheader Saturday with a chance to set the Division III record for consecutive wins to open a season. Johns Hopkins University started the 2004 season 33-0 before losing to Montclair State.

 

Chandler Barnard pitched a seven-inning one-hitter and struck out eight in the opener. James Wood's homer in the fifth was the difference. Brandeis'
Craig Letendre pitched a two-hitter.

 

In the second game, Trinity's Thomas DiBenedetto went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI.

 

When the latest Division III national rankings were released last week, Trinity moved up from No. 5 to the No. 2 spot behind top ranked Chapman University.

 

"It feels pretty good to be undefeated and we are playing well as a team ‹ not just squeaking games out," said Tim Kiely, a fifth year student who will graduate next month. "We are getting more recognition from people and more fans are showing up at our games. There is a bit of a buzz about what is going on and it is especially nice that we will host the NESCAC Tournament instead of having to go on the road."

 

The conference tournament opens on May 9.

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