NAIA Big Series of the Week Ends with Two Trojan Losses to Huntington

NAIA Big Series of the Week Ends with Two Trojan Losses to Huntington

UPLAND, Ind. – Heading into this weekend, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics dubbed the baseball series between Huntington and RV Taylor as the NAIA Big Series of the Week, and the two rivals were sure not to disappoint.

After Taylor swept Thursday’s doubleheader, Huntington punched back with a two-game sweep of its own on Friday, stealing both games in late-game, come-from-behind fashion. The Foresters stole game one by a final score of 11-9 thanks to a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. Game two then fell in the Forester favor in extra innings, after Huntington went up 9-7 with another timely home run in the top half of the eighth inning.

All in all there were 13 total home runs between the two juggernaut offenses on Friday, seven of which came from the bats of the Trojan lineup.

Camden Knepp went deep in each of Friday’s game, totaling five home runs in the series alongside nine RBI. His home run in game one was especially timely, coming in the bottom of the eighth to put TU up 9-8 with one frame to go. Unfortunately, the story would unfold with Huntington upping the ante with a timely three-run home run to ultimately win the game.

Trojan first baseman, Kade Vander Molen, went deep twice himself throughout the day, including a mammoth three-run shot in the first inning of game two to cap a five-run inning and spark some heated banter from the Huntington bench.

From there the Forester starter settled in, however, traversing the next five innings without allowing a run.

Meanwhile, the Huntington bats proved relentless by scoring seven unanswered runs, including a stretch of four-consecutive innings of run production.

By the bottom of the seventh inning, down to their last out, the Trojans trailed by a score of 7-5. Though freshman, Brennan Frickel, would have a shot to prolong the action with two teammates in scoring position.

The freshman native of Texas came through in a big way, planting a well-spaced single over the second baseman’s head in right center to tie the game at seven apiece.

Momentum swung with a clutch double play ignited by the Huntington defense to end the seventh with the game still tied, which then set the table for the Foresters’ second game-winning home run of the day.

Taylor entered competition on Friday with the eighth most team home runs in the nation, and after adding seven more throughout the day the Trojans now rank seventh among all NAIA teams in the long-ball category.

TJ Bass owns the league-lead with 11, while Vander Molen resides right beside him with 10 home runs of his own. Meanwhile, Kaleb Kolpien maintained his hold of the league-lead in batting average, boosting his mark to .417 with a total of five hits on Friday.

With its two losses to Huntington, RV Taylor (23-11, 16-4 CL) now shares the lead in the Crossroads League standings with cross-county rival, Indiana Wesleyan (20-11-1, 15-3 CL), while Huntington (21-10, 15-5 CL) sits one game back.

Taylor will look to re-capture sole possession of first place next Wednesday, April 5, when the Trojans are scheduled to host Bethel (13-19, 6-14 CL) for a doubleheader at 3:00 pm.