Trojans Trounce San Diego Christian in Seven-Inning Run Rule
WADDELL, Ariz. – In an offensive explosion, the Taylor University baseball team won its second game of the Coach Calderone Invitational as the Trojans trounced San Diego Christian (1-4) 20-8 in a seven-inning run-rule.
Offensive production for the Trojans was scattered throughout the lineup in a most wonderful fashion, as Taylor's two through four hitters went 9-14 from the dish while the six through eight batters went 7-12.
Senior, TJ Bass, led the way in the hit category, matching a career-high with four hits in five at-bats. Meanwhile, freshman Kaleb Kolpien contributed three hits of his own, kick starting his collegiate-career with two-consecutive multi-hit games. Not to get lost in the mix, though, was junior, Jacob Morris, who swung it in stride with his freshman outfield-mate, going 3-4 at the plate.
Bolstering the run category was sophomore second baseman, Camden Knepp, who collected a career-high four runs-batted-in while going 2-4 in the box. Kade Vander Molen and Conner Crawford pitched in multi-hit games as well, each driving in two runs along the way.
A four-run first inning framed the game's story for the Trojans, a story prefaced by Kolpien and a sharp single up the middle. Bass, then, followed suit with a single of his own, before Vander Molen doubled to left for his first RBI of the night. A wild pitch and an error by the Hawk third basemen subsequently set the stage for Knepp, who began his career-night with a triple deep to center field.
On the other side of the game, Taylor starting pitcher, Drake Gongwer, kept the opponents' bats at bay, allowing just one earned run and racking in seven strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings pitched.
Sophomore, Jack Ross (1-0), was the first guy out of the pen for the Trojans, securing his first-career win in two and a third innings of work. Fellow sophomore, Jared Sennese, then closed the door by tossing his first-collegiate pitch off the bump en route to recording the game's final three outs.
Meanwhile the bats showed up in bunches throughout the latter stretch of the game, as shown in a nine-run fourth inning and a seven-run sixth. In the fourth, seniors, Nick Rusche and Conner Crawford, each knocked RBI-singles, while Bass and freshman, Mason David, each unleased two-run doubles. The sixth inning was marked by a sequence of run-producing pairs: first, a twin set of hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded; then, a duo of doubles by Knepp and Crawford.
As an encore to last night's one-hit pitching performance, the Trojan offense exploded for 20 runs and 19 hits, seven of which went for extra bases. After scoring at least 20 runs in three games throughout the 2021 season, the Trojans are off to a hot start with their first in just two games played.
Taylor (2-0) takes the field again tomorrow, Friday, January 28th, when the Trojans take on tournament-host Arizona Christian (3-0) at 8:30 pm ET.