Trojans Split on Day, Top Lindenwood-Belleville 2-1 in Extra Innings
Davenport Box Score I Lindenwood-Belleville Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – No. 25 Taylor softball regrouped from a 6-0 loss to No. 23 Davenport in the opener Saturday, going on to pull out a 2-1 victory in eight innings of play over Lindenwood-Belleville on the strength of a great pitching performance from senior Hannah Klebesadel.
In Saturday's opener, No. 23 Davenport was able to shutout the Trojans for the second time in as many days after pulling out a narrow 1-0 victory Friday. The Panthers offense was alive in the meeting Saturday and established a 5-0 lead through four innings before adding the final run in the sixth.
Alyssa Eastman was the winning pitcher for Davenport, as the sophomore went six innings and allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out six Trojans. Kyleigh Linebaugh came in for relief in the seventh inning to preserve the shutout. Ashley Miller took her first loss of the season as Taylor's starting pitcher in this one, throwing all seven innings. Miller allowed 14 Davenport hits and six runs, four earned, to go along with two walks and a strikeout.
Taylor only mustered seven baserunners in the game on four hits and three walks. Anna Gunderson got on base in each of her at-bats from the No. 2 spot in the batting order with a single and two walks, with the other walk taken by Morgan Allison. Alex Lovelace and Davis Carter each went 1-3 with singles, while Hannah Robbins was 1-3 with a triple.
Later in the day, Taylor was able to tie the game up 1-1 in the sixth inning of game two against Lindenwood-Belleville before plating the winning run in the top half of the eighth inning to split the weekend's two-game series with the Lynx.
Taylor trailed 1-0 after the Lynx went ahead in the third off Klebesadel, but the Trojans were able to manufacture the equalizer in the sixth to force extra innings. Lauren Ehle started things off for Taylor with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miller. Ehle then made her way to third base with just the one out recorded with heads-up base running on a wild pitch that was blocked by the catcher. It was the freshman Carter that came through with the huge RBI with a single through the hole at shortstop to tie things up.
Klebesadel held Lindenwood down in the sixth and seventh by retiring six consecutive hitters. The international tiebreaker was then used in the eighth inning, as Lovelace was designated to begin at second base in the top half of the inning for Taylor. Gunderson did her job and moved Lovelace to third with a sacrifice bunt, and after an Ehle ground out it was Miller that drove in the go-ahead winning run with an infield single, hustling down the line to beat out the throw to first base.
Lindenwood-Belleville successfully advanced its baserunner to third base with a sacrifice bunt, but Klebesadel proceeded to retire the final two hitters of the contest to preserve the Taylor victory. Jessica Britt made a great play at shortstop to record the final out, snaring a sharply hit ball to seal the deal.
Klebesadel pitched all eight innings and prevailed in the pitcher's duel with her counterpart Taylor Winn of Lindenwood-Belleville. Klebesadel was excellent throughout to pick up her first win of the season, allowing just four hits, a walk and the one earned run while notching five strikeouts. Winn took the loss in a quality performance, conceding just five Taylor hits and one walk while recording nine strikeouts.
Lovelace went 1-3 with a walk in the contest, and Ehle went 1-4 with a run scored. Taylor Murray blasted a double and finished 1-3, while Miller and Carter each came through in the big moments to drive in a run.
Taylor (6-4) was able to salvage a win on the weekend with the extra-inning result, going 1-3 in its four games against the quality opponents in No. 23 Davenport and Lindenwood-Belleville. The Trojans are next scheduled to play on Friday, March 13 against Purdue University Calumet. The first game of the doubleheader at the Sparta Dome in Crown Point, Indiana is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm EST.