Eighth Inning Rally Secures TU Comeback Win
GLENDALE, Ariz. – For the first time in the 2020 season, the Trojans trailed after the sixth inning. The deficit did not deter the TU baseball squad, as the team posted four scores in the eighth frame to grab an 8-5 victory over Southwest.
The Purple and Gold (7-0) faced off against the Southwest Mustangs (3-4) on Friday morning in Glendale, Arizona. Playing on a neutral field, USW was the visiting squad in the matchup.
The Mustangs took control of the game in the seventh inning, taking advantage of a leadoff double to gain a 5-4 lead with two and a half innings remaining.
Facing the possibility of the team’s first loss of the year, Taylor stepped up with a clutch rally in the bottom of the eighth. Brian Fields and Tanner Kolbe each singled to start the frame, putting the tying and game-winning runs on base. Christian McGill moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, before Ben Kalbaugh evened the game with a grounder to second base.
Taylor flipped the script with two outs in the eighth, as Nick Rusche notched the game-winning RBI with a single up the middle of the field. Conner Crawford followed up with a two RBI double that gave the Trojans breathing room, heading into the final three outs.
Tucker Waddups kept the Mustangs quiet through the last two innings. The senior nabbed his second win of the season, giving up two walks through a pair of scoreless frames.
Rusche offered his first multi-hit contest of the year with two hits in four at-bats. The sophomore also extended his hitting streak to seven games. Fields joined his teammate for the team-high of two base hits on Friday, logging back-to-back multi-hit efforts.
TU will look to build on its incredible start to the 2020 campaign in its last bout in Arizona, taking on the host school, Arizona Christian, on Saturday at 6:00 pm EST.