Walk-Off Winner Leads Trojans to Split in Crossroads League Opener Against Spring Arbor

Broadcast Highlights

UPLAND, Ind. – A walk-off hit by pitch gave the Trojans a split in their Crossroads League opening doubleheader against Spring Arbor (9-6, 1-1 CL) on Tuesday night after falling in extra innings in the opener. 

Taylor led the entirety of the second game until the top of the ninth when the Cougars used five consecutive singles to begin the inning for four runs to take a 6-5 lead. 

The TU offense responded quickly in the bottom of the inning as Grace Mullins and Livie Lehmann smacked back-to-back doubles down the left-field line to knot the game at six. Patience at the plate by the next two batters loaded the bases for Delaynee McCreary, who got hit in the foot to drive in the winning run and give TU its first Crossroads League victory of the year, 7-6. 

Lehmann was outstanding all day, notching five hits, four runs scored, and four RBI. The sophomore standout laced three doubles and a home run, as she already has 29 doubles in her Taylor career. 

Spring Arbor started the game brightly with three of the four batters ripping singles but only drove in one run for a slight advantage before TU's first at-bat. 

The Trojans wasted no time getting the lead as Mullins singled and Lehmann knocked her third home run of the year to left-center field on a rope. Jersey Tannehill started a two-out rally with a double, followed by a two-bagger from McCreary, who used her wheels to beat the throw to second. Delaney Barton ripped a single to center to drive in McCreary and give TU a 4-1 lead. 

The lead increased to 5-1 on a Kaylee Larkin sac fly to drive in Lehmann, but the Cougars scored a run in the fourth to bring it back to a three-run advantage heading into the final inning. 

TU (9-7, 1-1 CL) rued its missed opportunities in the opener, leaving 11 runners on base in a game that went nine innings. 

Taylor grabbed an early lead as Aleyah Rastetter launched a double to center and was promptly driven in by a Lehmann single. 

Larkin continued her torrid start to the season in the first game with a wind-aided home run to dead center, which gave TU a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third. 

Spring Arbor responded with two runs in the top of the fourth, one of which was the second run produced by savvy base running, scoring a runner from third by stealing with a runner from first.

The game remained tied until the ninth despite Tannehill smacking a ball that would have been a home run but was robbed by the center field and the Trojans twice getting runners on second and third with one out but failing to score. 

The Cougars broke the deadlock in the ninth with a trio of singles to take the game 5-3. 

Mullins knocked three hits to more than double her career tally, including a double and scoring twice in a solid day. Tannehill walked three times and ripped two hits for a good day at the plate. The Taylor pitcher did a great job working in the zone all evening, walking only a single batter in 16 total innings while striking out four.  

Taylor will hit the road for its next two Crossroads League matchups, beginning with a doubleheader against Mount Vernon Nazarene (7-7, 0-2 CL) on Friday, March 15, with the first pitch of the opener set for 3:00 pm.