UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor fell 5-3 and 7-4 in its final home doubleheader of the season on Friday against Crossroads League competitor Goshen, giving up four unearned runs in the nightcap to seal its fate.
The Trojans made a comeback in the second game to knot things at four in the bottom of the sixth but surrendered three runs in the seventh to fall 7-4.
Goshen got on the board with two in the first and expanded the lead to 3-0 before Taylor had a runner cross the plate in the fourth. Kaylee Larkin drove in Livie Lehmann with a bullet to the center field fence after Lehmann ripped her 20th double of the season to begin the bottom of the fourth.
The Maple Leafs scored another run in the top of the fifth to push the lead back to three, with each of the first four runs being unearned.
TU rallied in the bottom of the sixth as a single and two free passes loaded the base for Jersey Tannehill, who roped a full-count single to right field and saw all three runners score, with Delaynee McCreary flew around the basepaths and scored after the Goshen outfielder bobbled the ball.
With the score tied at four, the Maple Leafs responded with three in the final frame to get a much-needed win for their Crossroads League Tournament hopes.
Taylor (25-23, 17-17 CL) fell in the opener 5-3, as the TU offense could not consistently put people on base or deliver in clutch moments.
The Trojans took an early lead in the bottom of the first as Madisyn Standridge walked to begin the inning and promptly stole second for her 24th swipe of the season. Lehmann drove her in with a sharp single to center field as the sophomore saw the ball well at the plate.
Goshen (25-23, 14-20 CL) knotted the game at one in the second with a double steal that saw the Trojans throw out a runner at second while conceding a run.
Taylor took its second lead of the contest in the bottom of the third when McCreary started things with a double to the left field wall off of a changeup and scored with two outs on an infield single by Lehmann.
The Maple Leafs finally cashed in on the heavy traffic they had produced on the basepaths in the fourth, scoring a trio of runs for a 4-2 lead. Goshen left 11 runners on base in the opener despite the victory.
Taylor made things interesting in the final frame with the first two batters reaching to send the tying run to the plate. The final three Trojans were retired, with Grace Mullins the only runner to cross the plate for TU.
Mullins tallied three hits in the twin-billing, while Lehmann and Larkin joined the freshman in getting a trio of knocks. The two sophomores each had a double, as they have been the top two offensive options for Taylor this season.
Taylor finishes regular season play on Saturday, April 27, on the road against No. 8 Marian (37-9, 27-7 CL), with the first pitch set for 1:00 pm.
