David Launches Four Homers as Gould Collects Win No. 700 in Dominant Doubleheader Sweep

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UPLAND, Ind. – Starting pitching, defense, plate discipline, baserunning, the long ball – you name it, the Trojans did it all to near perfection in a doubleheader sweep with victories of 12-0 and 22-7 over Grace (3-5, 0-2 CL) Friday afternoon in the Crossroads League opener at Winterholter Field.

No. 19 Taylor's (11-4, 2-0) game one shutout saw the program's all-time coaching wins leader, Kyle Gould, become the 18th active NAIA baseball coach to reach 700 victories. Gould's record of 701-371 (.654) is the eighth best winning percentage among skippers on that list.

TU took no-hitters deep into both games of the 2025 home-opening doubleheader, while Mason David highlighted an offensive outburst with four homers – including three in the nightcap, the last of which was good for the 200th hit in his career. 

It was business as usual for Gabel Pentecost (4-1), who took the ball in the series opener and delivered a masterpiece. The right-hander took a no-hitter into the eventual final frame as he carved up the Lancer lineup through 6.1 innings, tying for a career-high 11 strikeouts while only walking one batter. The lone hit allowed was a bloop single into shallow right field.

Lane Lewis preserved the combined shutout in game one by inducing two groundballs, the second of which turned into a highlight-reel, backhanded diving stop by shortstop Ben Kennedy who swiftly got the force out at second base to end the contest.

At the plate, the Trojans responded from going quietly in the first inning by pushing across five second-inning runs. Kennedy started the scoring with a sacrifice fly, while Ryan Sommer and Kaleb Kolpien each drove in two with base hits.

Sommer tacked on another RBI single as part of a two-run third frame, and Luke Sutter notched a two-out, two-run double in the fourth to make it a 9-0 game.

David and Kolpien crushed back-to-back balls over the center-field wall to lead off the sixth inning that put Taylor in position for a run-rule victory, and a wild pitch plated the home team's 12th run of the game.

Kolpien, Sutter and Sommer each logged two hits in the opener, while Luke Picchiotti drew four walks and scored three runs in the historic win.

The nightcap had much of the same start as game one, with starting pitcher Brody Fine mowing down Grace while it took the Trojans an inning to find their swing.

After a TU run came across on a wild pitch in the second inning, David opened the floodgates with a three-run, opposite-field homer. Then, after the second out was recorded with the Purple and Grey ahead 4-0, six straight Trojans reached base safely as Rylee Singleton, Picchiotti and Kennedy each came through with run-producing knocks to make it 9-0.

Taylor put up another nine-spot in the fourth frame, powered initially by a three-run homer from Kennedy and David's third big fly of the day. TU was not nearly done as it loaded the bases again to set up RBI singles for Singleton, Nate Simpson and Brady Gerig before Chase Long brought in the final run of the frame on a fielder's choice.

Grace fought back from an 18-0 deficit with three homers for seven runs in the last three frames, but Sutter, Matthew Roderer and David each also crushed home runs to close the day's scoring.

Roderer's homer to left-center marked not only the catcher's first big fly, but also his first hit in a Trojan uniform. Meanwhile, David's remarkable fourth home run across the twin bill represented the 23rd homer and 75th extra-base hit in his career.

On the mound, Fine (1-0) threw four no-hit, shutout innings as he commanded the zone with six strikeouts and just one walk against. He faced one batter over the minimum through his four frames, but Taylor's dynamic lineup kept the transfer from pitching further.

Jared Crandall recorded a scoreless appearance, while Conner Miller finished off the sweep as he retired the last batter on a weak fly ball that forced a slick diving catch from Sutter in left field.

David's trifecta of game-two homers helped him to a 4-for-4 contest with five RBIs. Kennedy and Singleton also came through with four RBIs apiece in the nightcap, and David, Parker Reinke, Sutter, Singleton, Simpson and Kennedy each had multi-hit performances.

No. 19 Taylor is back at Winterholter Field on Monday, March 3, as it finishes the series with Grace with another doubleheader starting at 12 noon.