Taylor Softball Tops Spring Arbor with Offensive Barrage
UPLAND, Ind. – The Trojans bats were impressive on Saturday against visiting Spring Arbor, as Taylor softball swept the doubleheader with two convincing wins, 15-6 and 12-1. Each game lasted just five innings.
On the day, Taylor produced runs in seven of the eight innings played from the plate and finished with 27 runs scored, 28 hits, five home runs and nine doubles to extend its winning streak to six games.
The Trojans had 18 hits in the opener with eight different players contributing one RBI or more. The Cougars led 2-1 after the first inning, but Taylor scored ten unanswered runs in the second and the third to pull away 11-2.
The big second inning was highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Ashley Miller with a two-run jack and a solo shot from Davis Carter.
Though Spring Arbor was able to score three in the fourth and one in the fifth, Taylor added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to account for the 15-6 final. Morgan Allison added a two-run long ball well over the left field fence in the fourth, her ninth home run of the season.
The balance throughout the Taylor lineup was on display, as seven players had a multi-hit game in the offensive onslaught.
From the circle, senior Hannah Klebesadel earned another win to improve to 10-1 on the year by pitching four innings and keeping the Spring Arbor offense at-bay. Maddie Cornell came in to pitch the top of the fifth for the Trojans, conceding just one unearned run. Spring Arbor starter Kaitlyn Sinclair took the loss for the Cougars.
Taylor won the opening inning of game two and led 2-1, later expanding its lead to 5-1 after a three-run third inning. Miller had an RBI single to score Gunderson in the frame, and in the next at-bat Carter hit her second long ball of the day and ninth of the season.
The Trojans dropped a seven-spot in the fourth to lead 12-1, as Taylor knocked six hits. Lovelace blasted a two-RBI double to deep right field, Gunderson found a gap with an RBI single, Carter drove in two more with a double to left-center field, and finally Hannah Robbins connected on a two-run dinger to dead center field.
Robbins also was the starter in the circle for Taylor and pitched four innings, allowing just the one earned run on five hits, three walks and six strikeouts. Once again Cornell came in to pitch the fifth, issuing one walk but holding the Cougars hitless.
Taylor (28-12, 22-6 CL) will play its final home game of the regular season on Tuesday, April 21 against Mount Vernon Nazarene in a 3:00 pm start. It will also be Senior Day at Gudakunst Field, as Taylor senior's Hannah Klebesadel and Sabrina Alaniz will be honored between game one and game two.