Trojans Drop Entertaining Battle Between Two NAIA Top-10 Teams

WALESKA, Ga. – The ninth-ranked Taylor Trojans fell 8-5 on Friday to eighth-ranked Cumberlands (2-0) after the Patriots rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to erase their deficit.

TU's lineup continued its strong finish to game one of the Southeast Rumble by putting up five runs through the first four innings on Friday. After a pair of hit batsmen to start the game, Mason David delivered with a two-out, two-RBI double to deep left center to put the Trojans ahead 2-0 after one frame.

Back-to-back hits by Kaleb Kolpien and Brayden Manning set up a sacrifice fly from Rylee Singleton in the third inning, and Luke Picchiotti singled home Manning three batters later to give TU a 4-0 lead.

The Patriots hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, but Manning continued his strong day at the plate in the bottom half of the frame with a sharp, opposite-field double to put the Trojans back up by four runs, 5-1.

Starting pitcher Matt Dutkowski was effective through four innings, allowing just three hits before getting into a jam in the fifth. Alec Hershberger was brought into the game with TU still up 5-3 with the bases loaded and two outs in the top half of the fifth frame, and the freshman delivered by inducing a huge groundball out to preserve the lead. Hershberger also pitched a perfect sixth inning to close his relief outing.

Clinging to a two-run lead in the top of the eighth inning, Taylor allowed a homer, walk and RBI-single, but it was still just one strike away from heading to the bottom of the eighth with the game tied at 5-5. The Patriots, however, delivered with one huge swing – a three-run shot to right field – to take an 8-5 lead that proved to be the difference.

The Trojans had five batters reach base in the seventh and eighth innings combined, but they ultimately could not get a timely hit while runners were in scoring position.

Kolpien and Manning led TU with two hits apiece, while David's two RBIs paced the Trojan lineup.

Taylor (2-4) closes the Southeast Rumble on Saturday against another ranked opponent, No. 23 Reinhardt (0-4), which serves as the tournament host. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.