Trojan Bats Stay Hot in Sweep of Grace
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WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Taylor lineup continued its recent barrage by putting up 24 runs on 31 hits over 14 innings against Grace on Thursday, leading TU to 11-5 and 13-1 victories over the Lancers.
The Trojans pounded out 13 extra-base hits in those 14 innings, posting a .716 team slugging percentage and reaching safely at a .506 clip throughout the doubleheader. With the two wins, TU has now scored at least 10 runs in each of its last five victories and in seven of its last 10 outings.
During that 10-game stretch, Taylor has averaged 8.7 runs per game to go with a .350 team average and a .486 slugging mark. Nathan Targgart and Wyatt Whitman have led the offensive onslaught, with Targgart hitting .525 with 14 runs batted in over that time and Whitman adding a .415 average to go with 17 runs, 12 RBI, four doubles, three home runs and seven stolen bases.
Targgart and Whitman led the way on Thursday as well, with Targgart going six-of-seven in the two wins, while adding three doubles. Whitman homered in each game to extend his homer streak to three-straight, stroked one double and added five runs and six RBI. Jared Adkins also ripped two doubles and joined Sam Wiese in collecting four hits.
The TU hurlers were equally as impressive, using four arms to pile up 17 strikeouts to just four walks over 14 innings. Andrew Kennedy highlighted the afternoon with five shutout innings for the win in game two, after Kole Barkhaus held the Lancers scoreless over the final three innings to collect a save in game one.
Taylor (29-10, 9-5 CL) has now defeated Grace (5-24, 5-10 CL) in 26-straight games and will look to extend that streak when it heads back to Winona Lake for the series finale on Saturday at 1:00 pm.