Offensive Outpour Secures Sweep After Walk-Off Win
UPLAND, Ind. – After a walk-off win in the opener, Taylor flexed its offensive muscle to secure two victories to begin Crossroads League play against Saint Francis (5-9, 0-2 CL).
A high-scoring affair in game one ended 10-9 in TU’s favor before Taylor routed Saint Francis 25-2 in the nightcap.
Ben Kalbaugh had a terrific day at the plate, going 2-2 with four walks, five RBI, and a run scored. The junior had the walk-off sac fly in game one before drawing two bases-loaded walks in the first inning of the nightcap. Sam Gladd was the star in the second game, delivering a grand slam en route to 6 RBI.
The Trojans struck first with three runs in the second inning. Mason David and Kade Vander Molen walks sandwiched Brayden Manning getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kalbaugh stepped to the plate and launched a double to left-center that plated two to give TU an early lead.
The Cougars tied the game in the fourth and chased Kaleb Kolpien from the game on a three-run home run to right field.
Taylor (9-7, 2-0 CL) retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning with two runs. David led off with a walk before Kalbaugh drew one of his four free passes on the day to get two runners on with nobody out. A sac bunt set up Camden Knepp, who delivered lacing a single to left that scored both runners.
One inning later, three more runs stretched the lead to 8-3. Luke Picchiotti laced a two-run before crossing the plate himself on a single by Ben Kennedy.
The Cougars responded with six between the sixth and seventh inning to take their first lead of the game at 9-8.
TU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the eight, capitalizing on an error that allowed runners on first and second with one out. Vander Molen delivered a single up the middle that allowed Knepp to showcase his speed and score from second.
David led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple over the right fielder, which left the winning run 90 feet from home. Kalbaugh capped his terrific game by ripping a line drive to center that drove in David and gave TU the game-one victory.
Jack Ross (3-0) came in and delivered 2.2 innings of scoreless ball to ensure the Trojans held on and got the well-earned victory.
TU continued the momentum into the nightcap, exploding for 16 runs in the first inning. Trojan batters drew 11 walks in the inning, with Gladd delivering a grand slam and another single that drove in two runs.
Alec Holcomb (2-1) was not overshadowed by the offense. The junior fired five innings, with four strikeouts and a single home run the only blemish on his line.
TU added runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings, highlighted by a Manning home run that pushed the lead to 25-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
The offensive output continued the Trojans’ dominance at home, moving to 6-1 at Winterholter field while plating double-digits in five contests.
The Trojans will finish the series against Saint Francis with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 4, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with first pitch scheduled for noon.