RV Taylor Caps Off Regular Season with Senior Day Sweep

RV Taylor Caps Off Regular Season with Senior Day Sweep

Team Stats

May 1, 2021

Video Highlights

UPLAND, Ind. – In its final tune-up before the Crossroads League Tournament begins next week, RV Taylor (38-16, 24-12 CL) wrapped up its regular season slate with a pair of victories over Spring Arbor (21-31, 15-21 CL) on Senior Day. The Trojans won the first contest, 7-2, before using a nine-run fifth inning in game two to secure a 9-1, mercy-rule triumph.

The Trojans celebrated the careers of Kara Tucker, Kelsey Moody, Jacqueline Ryals, Jessica Doctor, Katie Suits, and Taylor Wilson, all of whom played significant roles in the success of the TU softball program over the last four years. The group led the Trojans to a 117-51 overall record in that span, including a 74-34 mark in the Crossroads League, while also leading Taylor to one National Championship appearance in the 2019 season.

Tucker had a Senior Day to remember, batting 4-for-7 with three runs batted in and the third home run of her illustrious career, which helped break a 1-1 tie in the nightcap and spur the Trojans to their eventual victory. Wilson also put together a strong performance at the plate, finishing 3-for-6 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.

The Trojans were red-hot offensively for the third straight doubleheader series, batting .458 with 27 hits, four doubles, two triples, and three home runs. Emma West finished an incredible 6-for-7 from the leadoff spot, while Kristin Mihalic went 4-for-6 and recorded her team-leading ninth home run. Aleyah Rastetter added four hits, while Caitlyn Grim finished 2-for-3 in game two with a solo home run and the game-winning, two-run triple, both of which came in the fifth frame.

The Trojans led from the onset in game one, taking a 1-0 lead on a Rastetter RBI single in the first inning. Run-scoring base hits from West and Tucker increased the Trojan advantage to 3-0 after two frames, before Taylor scored its remaining four runs in the third.

After Rastetter led off the inning with a triple, Mihalic's two-run bomb to left-center made it a 5-0 Taylor lead. Ashton Whitman later scored on catcher's interference, before Grim came home on a Spring Arbor error for the final tally.

With her 18th win in the circle, Maddi Evans (18-4) tied former Taylor great Hannah Robbins for the most wins in a single season by Taylor pitcher. The Fairmount, Indiana native allowed just two hits in the opener while striking out three Cougars. At the conclusion of the regular season, the junior, along with tying Robbins' single-season win record, is the Trojans' single season strikeout leader (225) while also possessing the third-lowest earned run average (2.24) for a Taylor pitcher in a single campaign.

Doctor earned her first save of the season, allowing just one hit and collecting one strikeout in the final three innings of play.

After a pitcher's duel in the first three innings of the nightcap, Spring Arbor took its first lead of the day with a single run in the top of the fourth. However, the Trojans came roaring back in the fifth.

Grim started the rally with her third round tripper of the season, tying the contest at 1-1, before Tucker's two-run blast gave the Trojans the lead for good.

Taylor scored four more runs on a two-run single from Wilson and a two-RBI double from Lauren Kanai, before Grim secured the sweep with her two-run triple to left field.

Kanai (16-8) added to her career-best win total, collecting her 16th victory in the circle this season. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native was brilliant in her second straight complete-game performance, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out four.

The Trojans will be back in action at Gudakunst Field on Wednesday for the first round of the Crossroads League Tournament. Start time and opponent are still to be determined.