Evans Shines in League Split with Goshen
UPLAND, Ind. – Maddi Evans stood out as Taylor (18-17, 15-9 CL) split with Goshen (19-21, 9-17 CL) in a league doubleheader.
Evans (9-7) started game one in the circle and was dominant, as the Maple Leaf hitters struggled to get anything going.
After allowing a single to the first batter of the game, the senior mowed down the final 15 hitters of the contest, including striking out nine Maple Leafs, on her way to victory.
The Taylor offense had a slow start, but came to life in the third inning. Evans singled to start the frame and after one out, Caitlyn Grim blasted a two-run home run deep to right field for her first home run of the season.
The Trojans struck again in the fourth, capitalizing on a Goshen miscue to plate three more runs. Kristin Mihalic reached base to start the inning by recording one of her three walks of the game. Meg Stanley singled with one out and Stanley and Mihalic both scored on an errant throw after a bunt single by Emma West. Evans walked and later scored on a single to center by Grim to grab a 5-0 lead.
A pitching change in the fifth did not slow down the TU offense. Another errant throw allowed Alexi Clay to reach base, before walks by Mihalic and Stanley set up West with one out. West singled to score Clay and with two outs, Whitman laced a double to right center to score both Stanley and Mihalic and end the game early by virtue of a 8-0 run-rule victory.
TU’s comeback bid in game two fell just short, after battling back from an early 5-0 deficit.
Some sharp baserunning in the third helped the Trojans get two runs back. West reached on an error and wisely took second on the errant throw. After Evans singled to get West to third, she scored on a sacrifice fly from Grim. Evans stole second with two outs, before Jersey Tannehill ripped a single up the middle to help Evans cross the plate and make the score 5-2.
Evans drove a home run down the left field line that just snuck inside of the foul pole to cut the deficit to two in the fifth.
Taylor had multiple baserunners in the sixth and seventh inning, but failed to have another runner cross the plate, as Goshen took the game 5-3.
Lindsey Nolt was excellent in relief during game two, pitching five and two-thirds scoreless innings to keep the Trojans in the game. The righty struck out two, while allowing only six baserunners in her longest outing of the season.
Taylor is scheduled to play Goshen again, Wednesday on the road. There is a 3:00 pm start time for the doubleheader against the Maple Leafs in Goshen.