Trojans Roll to Sweep of IUSB on Diamond

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor outscored IU South Bend by a 21-4 margin to sweep the Titans in Friday’s doubleheader at Winterholter Field. TU smashed three home runs at the plate and piled up 26 strikeouts in 15 innings on the bump in the dominant showing.

The Trojans never trailed, jumping to a 5-0 lead in the opener and a 6-0 lead in the nightcap, before cruising to victories of 9-2 and 12-2. TU rapped out 12 hits in each contest, with seven of the 24 knocks going for extra-bases.

Nathan Targgart led the way once again, collecting five hits on the day with his first home run of the season and five runs batted in. Austin Mettica also homered and drove in five, with Andrew Kennedy also leaving the yard.

Several other Trojans had big days at the plate, as Jared Adkins collected two doubles among three hits, walked twice and drove in four, Josh Lane posted three hits, three runs and two steals and Tanner Watson finished with a trio of hits. Wyatt Whitman scored five times and swiped two bags and Kyle Kelsheimer stole three bases and scored four runs as a courtesy runner for TU.

The pitchers were just as impressive, as Matt Patton, Tucker Waddups, Mitch Ubelhor, Justin Pettit, Trevor Booth and Rob Fox combined to hold IUSB to three earned runs on 12 hits and two walks, while striking out 26.

Patton and Waddups set the tone with dominant, 10-strikeout, five-inning starts to record the wins in each game. Patton improved to 4-0 and Waddups logged his first victory in a Taylor uniform. Ubelhor was the lone reliever to toss more than one frame, fanning three over two hitless innings.

Taylor (8-4) and IUSB (0-5) are slated to play two more games on Saturday, with the doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 pm.