Kuizin Hits Three Homers, Goes for Cycle as Taylor Sweeps SAU
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Taylor senior Cassie Kuizin put on a spectacular performance to spark TU’s doubleheader sweep of Spring Arbor on Wednesday, as the senior shortstop hit for the cycle in game one and went a combined 7-for-9 at the plate on the day with three round-trippers, two doubles, a triple and five RBIs.
In game one, Taylor trailed 5-3 entering the seventh frame and exploded for nine runs in the final inning to take a 12-5 lead into the home half. Spring Arbor added a run, but TU still came away with the 12-6 win.
Kuizin started the seventh-inning rally with two outs, blasting a two-run shot to tie the game at five runs apiece, after Erin Cozad had singled. Three-straight singles by Kara Tucker, Courtney Moriarty and Hannah Castor followed Kuizin’s home run and loaded the bases for Davis Carter, who doubled to drive in two more runs and give TU a 7-5 lead. After a Taylor Wilson walk, Lauren Kanai blew the game open with her first-career grand slam. Cozad singled again and Olivia Hostetler recorded a double to drive in the 12th and final run for the Trojans.
Kuizin highlighted the game one win by going 4-for-4 at the dish and hitting for the cycle in order, as the senior shortstop singled in the first, doubled in the third, tripled in the fifth and hit the game-tying, two-run home run with two outs in the seventh.
After hitting the game-tying blast in game one, Kuizin led off the second contest with a solo home run to quickly put Taylor up 1-0.
Spring Arbor (11-13, 5-7 CL) responded with three runs over the first two innings to take a 3-1 lead, but Kuizin once again provided a round-tripper, her third-straight at-bat with a homer, which brought TU to within one.
Two batters later, Moriarty followed Kuizin’s lead and tied the game at 3-3 with a solo home run of her own.
Kuizin was the catalyst yet again in the fifth frame, leading off with a double down the right-field line to immediately give the Purple and Gold a runner in scoring position. Tucker then singled to put runners on first and third with nobody out and Moriarty doubled to score Kuizin from third.
After an SAU pitching change, Castor walked and Carter reached first on a fielder’s choice, scoring Tucker to give Taylor a 5-3 lead. Castor then scored on Kanai’s single, Olivia Hostetler drove in a run with her two-out single and Wilson scored on an error to cap the five-run fifth inning and provide the Trojans with an 8-3 advantage.
The Cougars cut the lead to three with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, but again Taylor added another run in the sixth to make the final tally.
Kuizin and Carter each had two multi-hit games, while Tucker, Moriarty, Cozad and Hostetler each enjoyed one multi-hit game apiece.
Kanai (6-3) earned the win in the circle in both games, while Moriarty tallied her first save of the season.
Kuizin’s three homers on Wednesday matched the senior’s total from 2017 in 51 games and her total over the first 16 games this spring.
Taylor (11-7, 5-5 CL) will host Bethel (2-14, 1-7 CL) for two games on Friday at 3:00 pm at Gudakunst Field in its next time out on the diamond.