No. 13 TU Bounces Back from Streak-Halting Defeat to Win Series

UPLAND, Ind. – No. 13 Taylor (24-5, 15-1 CL) saw its 18-game winning streak come to a halt with a 5-3 loss in Saturday's opener versus Mount Vernon Nazarene (20-10, 8-8), but the team bounced back with a come-from-behind, 12-2 win in the finale to claim the series.

The Trojans got stellar relief pitching on both sides of the doubleheader Saturday, but the day's most notable moment was Kaleb Kolpien's fourth hit of the nightcap, an RBI single into right field that brought the senior into a tie for the program's all-time lead in hits with 280.

Kolpien continued his hot streak, going a combined 6-for-8 with two walks in the twin bill. The outfielder/designated hitter boasts a batting average of .440 on the season, spurred by his .565 average (35-for-62) since Feb. 28 – or the entirety of the Crossroads League schedule thus far.

Trailing 2-1 in the fourth frame of the finale, it was Kolpien's two-out single that extended the inning and loaded the bases. Sam Gladd and Luke Sutter ripped back-to-back base knocks to the outfield immediately afterwards, while Luke Picchiotti and Rylee Singleton continued the inning with a walk and hit-by-pitch to put the Trojans ahead, 5-2.

Nate Simpson, who earned the start in left field for game two, took advantage of the aforementioned plate appearances with his sharp single up the middle that broke the game open, 7-2, in favor of TU.

Taylor tacked on runs in the fifth inning on Kolpien's record-tying 280th career hit and a fielder's choice from Gladd to make it 9-2. The Trojans weren't done yet, however, as pinch-hitter Parker Reinke blasted a ball to right-center for a three-run homer that gave the Purple and Grey a commanding 12-2 edge.

Reinke's homer marked the freshman's second big fly in as many series, and it stands as his first one hit at Winterholter Field.

Fellow freshman Lane Lewis closed the day on the bump with a perfect inning to secure TU's series win.

Jake Boyer (3-0) started the finale and earned the win. The junior went four innings, posted five strikeouts and allowed two earned runs, as the Trojan lineup came to life just in time to get him the victory.

Gage Gongwer worked two perfect frames in middle relief, helping the staff retire the last 12 Cougars of the day in order.

In the opener on Saturday, TU was uncharacteristically unable to drive in runners, as it left nine men stranded through the game's first five innings.

After falling behind 4-0, Sam Gladd put a charge into one for his team-leading 14th homer of the season, a two-run shot in the third that made it 4-2.

Gladd also tripled in the seventh frame with the Trojans down 5-2, and he scored on a sacrifice fly from Sutter. The Trojans couldn't do anything with Kolpien's leadoff single in the ninth, however, as the nation's second-longest winning streak came to an end along with TU's perfect Crossroads League record.

Nathan Frady shined out of the bullpen, though, tossing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts to finish the game. Dalton Swinehart also worked three frames, allowing one run and striking out four.

Ryan Sommer caught both games of the doubleheader, leading the pitching staff to just seven runs yielded in all.

No. 13 Taylor begins an eight-game road stretch on March 28, when it will take on Bethel (10-14, 5-11) at 1 p.m. in the first of a four-game series.