TU Baseball Takes Two against Siena Heights

HOOVER, Ala. – On day one of a two-day weekend series between Taylor and Siena Heights (0-2), the Trojan baseball team took two, outscoring the Saints 16-1 in 14 innings of play.

In game one, the Trojan offense exploded for 12 runs as all nine Trojan batters recorded a hit, four of which recorded two, while Kade Vander Molen led the way in run-production with four runs-batted-in. Game two showcased the season's first shutout by the Taylor pitching staff, in which four Trojan hurlers carried Taylor to a 4-0 win.

All 12 Trojan runs came in the first three innings of game one, 11 of which came in the first two. Furthermore, Taylor ripped into the Saint bullpen before a single out was recorded as the Trojans reached base on two hits and three walks to start the game.

While all nine Trojan batters recorded a hit, the two through five spots in the lineup were especially effective, going a combined 8-12 from the box and scoring nine of Taylor's 12 runs.

Senior, Noah Huseman (1-0), got the nod in game one, completing five strong innings on the mound while recording six strikeouts and only allowing five baserunners.

Sophomore, Alec Holcomb, and freshman, Conner Miller, each tossed an inning out of the pen, as Miller struck out two Saints in the ninth to complete the 12-1 Trojan win.

In game two, fellow senior starting pitcher, Luke Shively (2-0), picked up his second win of the 2022 season, while tossing four and a third scoreless innings alongside five strikeouts. Shively now leads the staff with 22 strikeouts on the season, a mark that leads the Crossroads League as well, while averaging 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Michael Pinarski and Jack Ross combined for the other two and two-thirds innings pitched in game two, together striking out another four batters while only allowing a single baserunner.

On the offensive side, it was the bottom of the order that secured the win for the Trojans in game two, particularly Mason David, the freshman nine-hole batter who drove in all four Taylor runs.

David picked up his first RBI in the third inning on a groundball to second that scored teammate, Jacob Morris. In the fifth, though, David would strike again, this time to the tune of a three-run homerun, the first of his young collegiate career.

Taylor (5-4) will be back in action tomorrow, when the Trojans take the field for another seven-inning doubleheader with Siena Heights. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm ET.