Pitching Propels TU to Top of Standings, Saturday’s Games Delayed One Hour

Broadcast Highlights

UPLAND, Ind. – The No. 21-ranked Taylor baseball team (19-9, 12-2 CL) entered Friday's doubleheader versus Mount Vernon Nazarene (14-10, 10-4) in a virtual three-way tie atop the Crossroads League standings with MVNU and RV Indiana Wesleyan. The Trojans swept the Cougars behind shutdown pitching, however, and the Wildcats of IWU (16-8, 10-4) were swept at Saint Francis to provide Taylor a two-game cushion in first place.

The reigning Crossroads League Pitcher of the Week, sophomore Gabel Pentecost, threw seven shutout innings in a 4-1 victory in game one, and classmate Nick Crabtree followed with an equally dominant six-inning start in game two's 2-0 win.

TU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first contest on Friday thanks to back-to-back doubles pulled down the line by Mason David and Kaleb Kolpien. David scored on Kolpien's double, and Brayden Manning brought Kolpien in with an RBI-groundout.

Both starting pitchers were masterful as the game progressed, but the Trojans finally struck again in the seventh inning when Kolpien singled to center field. Manning followed by reaching second base on a play that featured two errors, and Sam Gladd brought Kolpien home with a sacrifice fly.

Pentecost, who came into Friday's doubleheader leading all starting pitchers in the CL with a 2.84 ERA, ended his day going seven strong as he struck out six and did not allow a walk for the second consecutive start. The scoreless start improved his record to 3-1 on the season.

Jack Ross came on in relief of Pentecost, and the Trojan lineup – aided by a wild pitch – spotted the senior another run following a shutdown eighth inning.

MVNU loaded the bases in the ninth frame, but Ross induced a nicely executed double play to shortstop Ben Kennedy before striking out the final batter to close out the 4-1 win. Ross' save marked the reliever's third of the season and 14th of his career, moving him one save away from tying the career record at Taylor.

TU had 10 hits compared to the Cougars' six in game one, as the Trojans were led by Kolpien, Brennan Frickel and Luke Picchiotti with two hits apiece. 

The only runs in game two came in the second inning, when David doubled down the left field line for the second time on the day and Frickel reached on an error. Kennedy singled home David while Frickel advanced to third to set up runners on the corners with two outs. Kennedy then stole second, and Frickel alertly scored on the throw down to second to make it 2-0.

Crabtree (1-0) was nothing short of phenomenal in his six-inning shutout start, as the southpaw matched Pentecost with six strikeouts against just four hits and no walks allowed.

Dalton Swinehart picked up his third save of the season with a scoreless seventh inning that was capped off by an amazing defensive play from Kennedy that secured the Trojans' first shutout of the season.

TU's defense, like its pitching, was on point all day long with no errors committed.

No. 21 Taylor can extend its current eight-game winning streak to 10 when it finishes the series versus MVNU on Saturday, March 23. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader has been delayed one hour from its originally scheduled start time and is now set for 1 p.m. at Winterholter Field.