TU Softball Continues to Roll with Senior Day Sweep
Game 2
Game 2
Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mount Vernon Nazarene | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Taylor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
Game 1
Game 1
Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mount Vernon Nazarene | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Taylor | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
Game One Box I Game Two Box I Photo Gallery
UPLAND, Ind. – Seniors Hannah Klebesadel and Sabrina Alaniz were honored on Senior Day at Gudakunst Field Wednesday, and receiving votes Taylor softball extended its winning streak to eight games with a sweep of Mount Vernon Nazarene on the strength of 7-1 and 3-0 victories.
The Trojans have been playing excellently of late and have now won 19 of their last 22 games, dating back to the previous meeting between the two teams on March 31. The win in game two over the Cougars gave Taylor its 30th victory of the season.
Taylor claimed the opener as the senior Klebesadel pitched a complete game, amassing a season-high nine strikeouts to dictate play. The Cougars had just four hits off Klebesadel and were held scoreless through the first five innings as the Trojans were able to establish a 7-0 lead. The right-hander from Germantown, Wisconsin improved to 11-1 on the season to pace the Taylor pitching staff and has posted an ERA of just 2.92 thus far in her senior campaign with ten complete game performances.
The Taylor offense struck first with a five-run third inning. Davis Carter plated Lauren Ehle on a sacrifice fly, and after a single from Morgan Allison and a walk from Jessica Britt the bases were loaded. Junior catcher Taylor Murray stepped to the plate and belted her first grand slam of her career, putting a good swing on a full-count pitch and connecting with an opposite field shot to make the score 5-0.
Taylor added two more runs in the fifth inning after a two-out, two-run triple to right field from last week's Crossroads League Player of the Week Alex Lovelace.
After allowing her first run in the sixth frame, Klebesadel ended the game fittingly with a strikeout in the top of the seventh to seal the deal.
Britt finished 2-3 in the contest with two doubles and two runs scored in addition to the big hits from Lovelace and Murray.
Game two was once again dictated by Taylor pitching, as last week's Crossroads League Pitcher of the Week Hannah Robbins continued to throw well from the circle with a complete game shutout, her third of the season. The sophomore pushed her record to 9-5 and brought her ERA down to 2.64 with the dominant outing. The sophomore gave up just four hits, all singles, to go along with a line of three walks and six strikeouts.
Taylor's runs came early, starting in the opening inning. Lovelace continued to swing a hot bat and got things started with a single, eventually coming around to score after an RBI single from Carter. In the second inning, Lovelace drove in Allison with a single of her own. Taylor's final run would come in the fourth, as Lovelace bunted and reached on a base hit. Ehle earned a walk to advance Lovelace to second, and Ashley Miller came through with a two-out single to left field to score the third run.
Carter and Lovelace each have now extended their hitting streaks to eight games, all of which have been Taylor victories. During that span Lovelace has hit for an incredible average of .714 with Carter not far behind at .609. Additionally, each has posted a slugging percentage of over 1.000 to spearhead the Taylor offense.
Taylor (30-12, 24-6 CL) will be on the road at Bethel Friday for a doubleheader which is set to begin at 3:00 pm.