LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Mackenzie Noah dealt a shutout to lead Taylor to a 6-0 victory in its first game over Lindsey Wilson before falling 12-0 to No. 4 Georgia Gwinnett in the nightcap.
Noah was dominant in her second start of the season, delivering a complete game shutout while allowing only five baserunners the entire contest. The junior notched two strikeouts without walking a single batter, showing terrific command of the strike zone.
The offense also found its footing with seven extra-base hits from six different players and four more stolen bases as the team has already recorded 11 in four games, with Madisyn Standridge and Delaynee McCreary leading the team with three apiece.
Taylor scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first after Standridge got hit by a pitch and scampered to third on a single from Livie Lehmann. Standridge crossed the plate with Delaney Barton reaching on an error from the first baseman.
Noah then escaped the only jam she faced in the top of the second. Lindsey Wilson (1-3) had the first two batters reach base and then advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Noah struck out the next two batters looking to quiet the Blue Raiders and leave the runners stranded.
The Trojans scored another run in the second frame as Jersey Tannehill knocked a leadoff double and was driven in by a two-out two-bagger from Aleyah Rastetter as the offense got rolling.
The offense continued its momentum in the third, seeing three runners cross the plate. With two outs and nobody on the lineup connected on four consecutive base hits, including a trio of doubles to push the lead to 5-0, which was more than enough with the outstanding effort from Noah inside the circle.
After a single in the top of the fifth, Noah (1-1) retired the final eight batters to complete the shutout and get her first win of the year.
Brooke Sanchez added a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth for the Trojans' final run of the game and the first round-tripper of the season for the squad.
The second game of the day saw the Trojans fall 12-0 in five innings to No. 4 Georgia Gwinnett (4-0).
The Grizzlies secured runs in each of the first two innings before scoring 10 in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open and send the Trojans on their way to defeat.
Lehmann had Taylor's (1-3) only hit of the contest with a double in the fourth.
Taylor's next game is set to be its home opener of the season with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, February 17, at Gudakunst Field against Trinity Christian (1-3), with first pitch coming at 1:00 pm.
