Taylor Offense High-Powered in Wins over Saint Francis
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Receiving votes Taylor softball displayed an explosive offense Monday afternoon on the road against Saint Francis, scoring 32 runs in the doubleheader to improve to 12-4 on the year in Crossroads League play.
The Saint Francis pitching could not contain the Taylor bats as the Trojans did damage all throughout its lineup in the 17-5 and 15-4 victories.
Game one lasted just five innings as Taylor plated three runs in the first inning, three runs in the second, five runs in the third and six runs in the fourth to pull away. Five batters had two or more RBI in the contest and the Trojans consistently got on base with a total of 12 hits while also being aided by seven Saint Francis errors.
The top of the Taylor lineup was devastating from the dish. Anna Gunderson set the tone early with a two-run home run in the first inning and went on to finish 3-5 with a double, the two-run jack, three RBI and three runs scored. Lauren Ehle batted third and went 3-4 with four RBI and four runs scored while blasting a three-run home run in the third inning, her sixth long ball of the season. Leadoff hitter Alex Lovelace was 2-4 with two RBI, a walk and two runs scored.
Ashley Miller went 1-4 from the cleanup spot in the contest and came around to score twice, while Davis Carter was 1-4 with a two-RBI double. Batting sixth, Hannah Robbins cranked a double of her own and finished 2-4 with three RBI. Second basemen Jessica Britt and right-fielder Erin Tice each added two runs for the Trojan cause.
Taylor starting pitcher Maddie Cornell improved to 5-2 on the season from the circle in three innings pitched, giving way to Hannah Klebesadel for the final two innings of work. Saint Francis starter Heather Zengler took the loss and was chased after just three innings pitched as Taylor jumped out to an 11-3 advantage.
The Cougars got off to a good start in game two, building a 3-0 lead after the first as catcher Erica Smith belted a three-run shot, her third home run of the doubleheader. Taylor starter Hannah Robbins settled in nicely however to pitch the rest of the contest to earn the win, while the Taylor offense stayed in rhythm and provided ample run support for the sophomore hurler.
The Trojans made the score 3-1 in the second after Taylor Murray earned a hit-by-pitch RBI with the bases loaded. Gunderson was once again a sparkplug as she stroked her second home run of the day to lead off the third. The inning would be a productive one for Taylor as it batted around the order and plated six more runs following the blast from Gunderson. Robbins helped her own cause with an RBI double, and the next batter Morgan Allison drove in two with a two-base knock to left field. Jessica Britt added an RBI single, and Gunderson capped it all off with her second RBI of the frame with a single to center field. Both Britt and Lovelace came around to score on the play, with Lovelace taking home on an error from the Saint Francis center fielder.
With the score 8-4 in favor of the Trojans headed to the top of the sixth, Taylor had another seven-run inning, highlighted by another Gunderson RBI single, a three-run home run from Allison for her fifth RBI of the contest and a two-RBI single from Carter.
Taylor (18-10, 12-4 CL) has now won eight of its last ten contests after the offensive barrage on Monday. Taylor's 32 runs in the twin bill were the program's most for any two-game set in over a decade. The bats will aim to stay hot on Tuesday as the Trojans travel to meet Grace. The first game will begin at 3:00 pm.