Caruso’s Game Two Walk-Off Salvages Split with IWU

Broadcast Highlights - Game 2

UPLAND, Ind. – Graduate transfer Jacob Caruso hit a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the seventh inning of game two to lead No. 18 Taylor (28-12, 21-5 CL) to a twin-bill split on Friday evening versus RV Indiana Wesleyan (26-10, 20-6).

Though the Trojans' perfect 14-0 home record came to an end in a 6-4 defeat in game one, the walk-off win in the second contest maintained TU's one-game advantage over IWU in the Crossroads League standings.

Led by a mostly dominant outing by Nick Crabtree in the nightcap, the Taylor pitching staff limited the Wildcats to just one hit over the day's final seven innings.

The left-hander bounced back from a shaky first inning in which he allowed two walks and a two-RBI single that gave IWU a 2-0 advantage. Following a leadoff walk in the second frame, Crabtree retired the next 10 men he faced to keep the Wildcats' tally at two runs. The hitless streak for Indiana Wesleyan was made possible in part by an outstanding leaping snag by second baseman Brennan Frickel on a sharply hit line drive in the third inning.

Trailing by two in the bottom of the fourth inning, Sam Gladd came through with a run-scoring triple to deep center field before scoring himself on a wild pitch to make it 2-2.

Luke Picchiotti drove in a run with an infield single in the fifth frame after Fletcher Roemmich singled and Ben Kennedy doubled to nudge the Trojans ahead, 3-2, but TU failed to add on beyond that despite still having nobody out and runners on the corners.

Dalton Swinehart entered in place of Crabtree, who went five innings with five strikeouts and gave up just the one hit and two runs, and the junior pitched a scoreless sixth frame before IWU manufactured a run in the top of the seventh to tie it at 3-3. With a runner at third, Swinehart got a swinging strikeout on a fastball to send the game to the bottom of the seventh.

TU wasted no time loading the bases on a pinch-hit single from Rylee Singleton and two walks, which set up Caruso's walk-off single through the left side that scored pinch-runner Joe Lokos in the 4-3 victory.

Eight starters recorded a hit for Taylor in the nightcap, while Swinehart (4-3) picked up the win and did not allow an earned run in his appearance.

Game one featured an entertaining battle between the CL's top teams, with the Trojans striking first on an opposite-field home run by Mason David. The third baseman also made several fine defensive plays from the hot corner to open the game.

IWU got one run back in both the second and fourth innings before Kennedy singled home a run in the fourth frame and TU added two more courtesy of an error to take a 4-2 lead.

The Wildcats homered in the sixth inning, and they kept the hits coming over the next two frames to take a 6-4 lead, which held up as they took the series opener.

Gabel Pentecost extended his streak of starts to open the season with three or fewer runs allowed to 11, as the sophomore worked 5.1 innings, struck out five and allowed three earned in the no-decision.

No. 18 TU and RV IWU are back at Winterholter Field on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the series-concluding doubleheader.