No. 9 Taylor Outlasts Baker to Open Southeast Rumble

WALESKA, Ga. – The No. 9-ranked Taylor baseball team scored a run in four of the final five innings to complement several strong pitching performances and outlast Baker 4-2 Thursday afternoon.

Gabel Pentecost set the tone for the Trojans on the mound, tossing four shutout innings and picking up four strikeouts against just one walk and one hit allowed. The sophomore also escaped trouble in back-to-back innings to end his day, twice stranding a Wildcat who had reached third base with less than two outs.

TU broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning by taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and error to eventually plate Sam Gladd. That run would be given back in the bottom half of the frame, but catcher Jacob Caruso made sure that was all the Wildcats would get when he threw out a base stealer at third to end the inning.

Rylee Singleton doubled home Kaleb Kolpien in the sixth inning and Camden Knepp recorded an RBI groundout in the seventh inning to provide Taylor a 3-1 cushion.

Baker made it a one-run ballgame in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot off of Jack Ross, but the All-CL reliever settled in during his 2.2 innings of work and did not allow another run.

The Trojans tacked on an insurance run behind a double from Ben Kennedy and a run-producing single off the bat of Brayden Manning to make it 4-2 in the ninth inning. Left-hander Nick Crabtree inherited a runner on second base with two outs still to get, and the sophomore closed the door with a strikeout and groundout to pick up his first career save.

Jake Boyer (1-0) recorded the win for getting out of trouble in the middle innings without allowing an earned run. Caruso was superb behind the plate, throwing out three potential base stealers for the Wildcats to add to his defensive resume that now includes 78 runners caught stealing in his collegiate career.

TU's bats were led by Kolpien, Caruso and Kennedy, who each picked up two hits on the day.

Taylor (2-3) continues Southeast Rumble action on Friday at 11 a.m. when it takes on No. 8 Cumberlands (0-0).