TU Baseball Scores Wild Win in Opener, Falls in Game Two
EMERSON, Ga. – The 2016 season got off to a thrilling start for the Taylor baseball team on Friday, as TU scored three runs with two outs in its last at bat to steal a 3-2 win over Shawnee State. The Trojans dropped the night cap to Bluefield, 5-4, at the Perfect Game Complex.
Brian Moore got the seventh-inning rally started with a two-out single to center field and advanced to third on a single by Kevin Fahy. Nick Saldutti stepped in and ripped a double down the right field line to score Moore. The Shawnee State defense allowed Fahy to circle the bases with the tying run, as the cutoff man slipped on the relay and the throw sailed past the catcher. A second error on the play sent TU to the victory, as Saldutti got caught between third and home, before scoring when the SSU pitcher dropped the ball.
Taylor ended the contest with 10 hits, as Moore, Fahy and Tanner Watson collected two each. Moore also stole a base and picked up three assists from his shortstop position.
Luke Hunter earned a no-decision on the bump after holding the Bears (0-4) to one earned run on six hits in five innings of work. Logan Rodgers (1-0) claimed the win with two dominant innings in relief, as the junior southpaw fanned three of the six batters he faced and did not allow a base runner.
TU kept the momentum going early in the second game, scoring four runs in the first inning on a grand slam by Nick Hollowell in his first homer with the Purple and Gold. That would be all the Trojans would get in the game however, as Bluefield (1-5) battled back to take the 5-4 win.
Moore turned in another solid effort with two more hits, a walk, a run scored and three steals, while Saldutti and Watson also scored with Moore on Hollowell's grand slam.
Taylor (1-1) will close its stay at the Perfect Game Complex in Emerson, Georgia on Saturday, when it takes on RV Judson (3-3) at 2:00 pm, and Bluefield at 5:00 pm.