TU Offense Produces 25 Runs in Wins Over Bethel
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The TU softball team notched its second-straight sweep on Friday at Bethel, tallying 25 runs on 27 hits to record 18-0 and 7-1 victories over the Pilots.
Cassie Kuizin continued her recent stellar play, opening game one with a lead-off home run for Taylor. The scoring was far from over, as the Trojans piled on 10 more runs to take an 11-0 lead into the second inning. Lauren Kanai blasted her second grand slam of the week and Hannah Castor added a three-run to highlight the first-inning barrage.
Kuizin tacked on TU's second grand slam of the day in the second and the Purple and Gold added three more runs in the third en route to the run-rule win in the first tilt of the afternoon.
Darby Shaw (5-2) picked up the win inside the circle, as she combined with Kanai to pitch a two-hit shutout.
In game two, Bethel (2-16, 1-9 CL) opened the scoring with its lone run of the day to take a 1-0 lead early.
Kanai tied the game up at 1-1 with a solo home run in the second frame and Kuizin scored on Courtney Moriarty's sacrifice fly in the third to give Taylor a 2-1 lead.
The Trojans' lead remained 2-1 until a five-run seventh inning made the 7-1 final score.
Kanai (7-3) earned the win inside the circle for the Trojans, fanning a career-high nine batters in five innings, while Moriarty collected her second save of the season.
Kuizin went 4-for-6 at the plate on the day, with two round-trippers, three walks and a career-high six runs batted in to lead the Trojan offensive attack. Moriarty and Kanai also tallied four hits each, with Moriarty adding one RBI and Kanai posting six RBI's to match Kuizin.
The 18 runs and 19 hits in the first game were both season-highs for the Purple and Gold, and seven Trojans scored two or more runs in the dominant win.
Taylor (13-7, 7-5 CL) will look to keep its four-game winning streak intact when it travels to No. 3 Marian (19-1, 10-0 CL) on Saturday for two games, with the first pitch set for 1:00 pm in Indianapolis.