TU Softball Downs Union, Falls Late to No. 13 LWC in Opener
COLUMBIA, Ky. – A four-run sixth lifted RV Taylor to a 7-5 win over Union in Thursday’s season-opener, but the Trojans had to settle for a split on the day, as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to No. 13 Lindsey Wilson in the second contest.
Transfer shortstop, Kristin Mihalic, made an immediate impression and set the tone for the Trojan lineup from her leadoff slot by scoring in each of the first two innings against Union (0-2).
Despite the early offense, Taylor needed a four-run rally in the sixth to move in front and plated all four runs without collecting a hit. Union walked the bases loaded, before committing two costly errors that opened the door to four unearned tallies for TU.
The Trojans added an insurance run in the seventh and scored a 7-5 victory in the first game with Erin Kotlarz at the helm.
Mihalic closed the affair with two hits, three runs, one double and one stolen base and Kara Tucker followed in the order with one hit, one run and two runs batted in. The one-two punch of Mihalic and Tucker combined for three of TU’s five hits and four of the seven runs.
Taylor followed the opener with a defensive struggle against No. 13 Lindsey Wilson (2-0) and carried a scoreless tie into the fifth, before the hosts knocked back-to-back doubles with two outs to take a 1-0 lead. LWC put the game away with back-to-back homers in the next frame to secure the 4-1 win.
TU’s lone run came in the top of the sixth when Mihalic opened the frame with a single and Tucker reached on an error. Tucker later came in to knot the game at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Courtney Moriarty.
Taylor collected five hits in the second game as well, with Olivia Hostetler’s double serving as the squad’s lone extra-base hit of the contest.
Taylor (1-1) will play No. 13 LWC again on Friday in an 11:00 am start, before closing the trip against Union at 1:00 pm.