Fields Leads Taylor to Tuesday Sweep Over NCAA Division III Defiance
UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor spoiled Defiance’s season opener, notching a 17-2 victory in the opening game of the afternoon. The winning ways continued for TU in comeback fashion, defeating the visitors, 4-3, in the second game.
Brian Fields provided a huge spark in the lineup, smashing two home runs with seven RBI in game one. The senior went four-for-four in the contest with a hit by pitch, before grabbing another hit and a walk in the back half of the doubleheader.
In game two, the Trojans (12-2) found themselves down 3-0, needing a single from Fields to ignite a comeback rally in the seventh and final frame. Brett Lawson kept it going with a base hit, putting the tying score at the plate. Matt Dutkowski capped off the inning with an RBI single, evening the game at 3-3 to force extra innings.
Jacob Morris launched a double in the bottom of the eighth, giving Taylor a runner in scoring position with one out. Morris came home for the winning run off a fielding error from the Yellow Jackets trying to turn a double play.
Logging the final six outs on the mound, Cy Stanley picked up his first win of 2020. The sophomore held NCAA Division III Defiance (0-2) scoreless through two innings, securing the 4-3 victory.
In contrast to the slow offense of game two, the first contest featured a relentless TU attack that was rolling from start to finish. The TU squad scored in every chance at the plate, collecting multiple runs in four different frames.
A strong wind blowing out to right field helped the Trojans smack eight extra-base hits with four home runs. The team collectively recorded 17 hits on the way to posting 17 runs for the second-straight home contest.
Five Trojans notched multiple hits in game one, including Fields, Morris, TJ Bass, Kade Vander Molen and Nick Rusche. Rusche grabbed a pair of singles, extending his hitting streak to the 13 games.
Conner Crawford knocked a three-run shot, leading to a four-RBI effort.
The pitching staff grouped together for five-consecutive scoreless frames in the 17-2 game one triumph. Alec Holcomb logged a pair of innings on the hill, picking up the win with three strikeouts.
Taylor will begin Crossroads League play on Friday, battling Goshen on the road at 3:00 pm.