Trojans Win 11-7 in 13 Innings at Nelson

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Chase Long cleared the bases with a three-run double in the 13th inning and reliever Conner Miller shut the door in extras as No. 19 Taylor (3-1) defeated Nelson (AZ) 11-7 Tuesday night.

Playing National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)-affiliated Nelson (1-3), the Trojans relied heavily on their bullpen to piece together Tuesday's affair, using seven different pitchers in all.

Wes Hunt served as the opener, and the junior did his job tossing a scoreless first inning.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, a pair of walks set up the top of Taylor's order to do damage, and they cashed in beginning with a single from Kaleb Kolpien. Mason David also collected a base knock, followed by a sacrifice fly from Brayden Manning and a single off the bat of Luke Picchiotti that made it a 4-1 TU lead.

The Warriors worked their way back into the game at 4-3 heading into the sixth, when back-to-back Trojan walks spurred a two-out rally. Manning came through with a triple to give Taylor separation, 6-3.

Sophomore Nathan Frady provided Taylor with some length out of the bullpen, including striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the three-run lead.

Nelson countered with three runs in the seventh to tie the game 6-6, but Gage Gongwer and Dalton Swinehart combined to get the next six outs and send the game to extras.

Both teams scored one in the 10th, as Kolpien delivered his third hit of the game to help account for the Trojans' run.

Scoreless 11th and 12th frames played out as the game approached the four-hour mark, until Nelson gave Taylor life via walks, errors and balks in the top of the 13th inning. The big hit, though, came off the bat of Long. Entering the game as a pinch-hitter and earning just his fourth at-bat in a TU uniform, the sophomore transfer hit a three-run double as part of a four-run inning that gave the Trojans control.

Miller (2-0) promptly ended the night as he faced just six men over the final two innings and picked up the win for the second time in as many appearances this season.

No. 19 Taylor plays its first true series of 2025 when it stays in Arizona to face RV Ottawa (4-0) beginning Friday at 4 p.m. EST.