A Pair of Nail Biters Go Against Taylor in Road Matchup with No. 14 Marian
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INDIANAPOLIS – Taylor held their own and came close to completing an upset of No. 14 Marian (37-7, 27-5 CL) on Tuesday but fell just short in a pair of defeats.
The Trojans began the day with a tough first inning as the Knights scored four runs to gain a commanding 4-0 lead.
Katie Kottlowski came in relief, pitching five-and-two-thirds inning of scoreless ball inside the circle. The junior allowed five hits and struck out a pair without walking a batter in a stunning performance against a top-15 team.
The offense took time to get going, but a two-out rally in the fourth began with a single up the middle off the bat of Delaney Barton. Her namesake, Delaynee McCreary, stepped to the plate and sent a ball over the wall in left-center for a two-run home run to halve the deficit.
An inning later, Emri Agree launched a double to right center with one out to keep the momentum for the Trojans. Unfortunately, the center fielder was stranded in scoring position, and Taylor could not get another baserunner thereafter in the 4-2 defeat.
The nightcap followed a similar script, as the Knights scored a pair in the bottom of the second to grab an early lead.
Taylor answered in the third with another two-out rally. Grace Mullins and Madisyn Standridge slapped opposite-field singles before Livie Lehmann ripped a line drive down the left-field line for a two-RBI double to know the game at two.
Mackenzie Noah was superb inside the circle, tossing six innings and allowing just two runs to keep the game level. The righty struck out three and worked around doubles in the fourth and fifth in a terrific outing.
Kaylee Larkin singled with one out, and Barton and McCreary followed with base knocks to load the bases with one out. The momentum was swinging in the Trojans’ favor until a pair of strikeouts ended the opportunity without a run.
The Knights mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh and strung together three hits for a walk-off victory to end Taylor’s (28-18, 17-15 CL) upset bid.
Taylor takes the field next on Saturday, April 26, on the road against Goshen (17-25, 13-19 CL), with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.