RV TU Sweeps Doubleheader, Shively Tosses Gem
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Taylor Trojans (7-3) and Bethel Wildcats (1-2) finished their three-game series on Saturday with an afternoon doubleheader. TU nabbed game one by a 4-1 final score, before Luke Shively took control of the seven-inning game two with six scoreless frames, helping TU log a 6-2 victory.
Shively began the second game of the day on the bump for TU and came out strong. The righty shut down the Wildcat offense in his six innings of work, allowing one hit and zero runs. Seven strikeouts came in from Shively, including three in the second inning alone. The junior also posted a pair of perfect innings not allowing a base runner in the third and fifth frames.
The TU bats woke up in the fifth inning, as Joe Moran and Conner Crawford launched back-to-back homers to start the scoring. Each long ball marked the first of the season for both batters.
The big hits continued as the Trojans hit for the cycle within the frame. Kade Vander Molen smacked a triple, before scoring off a Nick Rusche double. TJ Bass capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left field.
Taylor kept the pressure on in the seventh and final inning, loading the bases with no outs. A walk and a fielder's choice brought home the last two runs for TU, leading to the 6-2 win in game two.
In the opening contest of the doubleheader, the Purple and Gold was the team to rally on offense to win the pitching duel.
Taylor impacted the scoreboard first stringing together a single and three-consecutive walks to take a 1-0 lead in the third. Bethel responded with its first run in the seventh, taking advantage of a walk, a hit by pitch and a passed ball.
Noah Huseman was the starting pitcher for TU, logging 4.1 innings on the mound. Huseman offered a strong outing, holding BU scoreless and striking out four batters.
Mitch Ubelhor and Matt Dutkowski teamed up for the relief effort, giving up one unearned run through 4.2 frames combined. Ubelhor entered the game in the fifth inning, helping Taylor escape a jam without allowing a run, despite having BU runners on second and third with just one out.
Once again, the Trojans utilized their discipline at the plate to get runners on base in the final inning. With two outs, back-to-back TU batters drew walks to score the go-ahead run. Dutkowski added two more scores with an RBI single, giving Taylor its 4-1 advantage.
Dutkowski came through on the mound with the final six outs to earn his second win of the year.
RV Taylor is scheduled to begin the NAIA Southeast Rumble on Thursday, taking on No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett (0-1) at 4:00 pm.