Manning Homers, Drives in Four in Series Finale

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Taylor's bats largely got on track in its series finale with Ottawa (3-1), but the Spirit lineup could not be held down in a 13-9 loss for the ninth-ranked Trojans on Saturday.

TU got off to a strong start with a two-RBI double from Brayden Manning in the first inning, which plated Camden Knepp and Kaleb Kolpien, who both reached via walks. 

The top of the order got the job done for the Trojans again in the fifth inning, with Knepp, Brennan Frickel and Kolpien all reaching base to set up a sacrifice fly from Manning and an RBI single from Rylee Singleton.

Unfortunately for Taylor, the lineup was playing from behind as OUAZ responded in both the first and fifth innings, striking for four and five runs, respectively, in those frames.

Down 12-4 after six innings, TU's bats came to life in the seventh with a pair of doubles from Singleton and Mason David, and a two-RBI base hit from Luke Picchiotti. Combined with a couple of miscues from Ottawa, the Trojans found themselves down just 12-8 with six outs to work with.

Manning hit a solo home run in the eighth frame to cap off the Lakeville, Minnesota native's big day at the plate with three hits (two for extra bases) and four RBIs, but his efforts could not get Taylor over the hump. Singleton joined Manning with a three-hit performance, while Kolpien and Knepp combined to reach base seven times and score four runs.

Nick Crabtree and Jacob Boyer did the heavy lifting for TU on the bump, as the sophomore classmates combined for six innings pitched, six strikeouts and only three earned runs allowed.

No. 9 TU (1-3) has nearly two weeks to prepare for its next set of games, which will take place in Waleska, Georgia, for the Southeast Rumble on Feb. 9-10. The Trojans' first opponent on Friday, Feb. 9, will be Indiana Southeast (0-0), with first pitch set for 11 a.m.