RV Taylor's Offense Sizzles In Doubleheader Sweep Of Ottawa
SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Trojans' offensive firepower was on full display against Ottawa University in their second doubleheader of the young season, and it resulted in their first two victories. RV Taylor dominated the Spirit in the opener, recording a run-rule, 11-3 triumph in five innings, before holding off a late rally to win the second contest 5-3.
RV Taylor (2-2) finished with a remarkable 25 hits, including 16 in the first contest, and five Trojans finished with at least three hits in the doubleheader. Lauren Kanai led the way with five hits in seven plate appearances, finishing with a double, a home run, and four runs scored. Kristin Mihalic continued her strong start, going four-for-five at the plate with a grand slam, four runs batted in, and three walks. Caitlyn Grim also finished with four hits on the day, scored two runs, and drove in four.
Freshman Aleyah Rastetter had a coming out party against Ottawa, finishing three-for-six and driving in the first three runs of her collegiate career, while Ashton Whitman added three hits, a run, and an RBI.
In the opener, after Rastetter opened the scoring with a two-run single in the first inning, Mihalic blew the game wide open in the second frame. With the bases loaded and two outs on the board, Mihalic ripped a shot over left-center field, increasing the Trojans' lead to 6-0 after two innings of play.
Lexi Abruzzo scored Grim with an RBI triple in the third, and the Trojans collected four more runs in the fourth, including a Grim two-run triple, to secure the win in the opener.
Maddi Evans (1-0) dominated in the circle, striking out 10 batters and giving up just two hits in four innings of work.
In the nightcap, Taylor scored single runs in the first and third innings, before crossing home plate three more times in the fifth to build a 5-0 advantage. Kanai's home run got the scoring started, before Rastetter and Grim followed with RBI singles.
Ottawa (0-2) put together a comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs, but the Trojans held on to secure the doubleheader sweep.
Cassy Lewis (1-1) pitched a complete game, giving up seven hits and three runs while striking out three.
The Trojans will be back in action on Friday afternoon, facing off against No. 17 College of Idaho (0-0) in a two-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.