Larkin’s Blast Pushes Trojans to Extra-Inning Victory Over Saint Francis

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Taylor won a tight battle in the opener in extra-innings before falling in the nightcap against Saint Francis (9-14, 2-8 CL) in Crossroads League action on Wednesday. 

A back-and-forth battle in the opening game went the Trojans' way in extra innings as Kaylee Larkin launched her first of two home runs in the doubleheader. 

Larkin came to the plate in the top of the eighth of a tied ballgame and powered a blast to left field to give Taylor a two-run advantage, which proved vital as the Cougars got one back in the bottom of the inning before falling. 

The Cougars took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the first and doubled their advantage in the second before TU got on the board. 

Trailing by a pair, the Trojans delivered multiple clutch hits in the third inning to take the lead. With runners on first and second, Jersey Tannehill ripped a single to right to plate Livie Lehmann. Delaney Barton stepped into the box and rocketed a double to right center field, which allowed two more runs to score and give TU a 3-2 lead. 

Lehmann came to the plate in the fourth and continued her tremendous season with a long ball to increase the Taylor (15-13, 7-7 CL) advantage to 5-2. 

Saint Francis tied the ballgame with three runs in the bottom of the inning, and after each team plated a run in the fifth, neither team could find the winning run despite runners in scoring position for each squad. 

Mady Foy earned the victory with three innings of relief inside the circle. The sophomore had four strikeouts, one short of her season-high, despite working a shorter stint to push her record to 6-4. 

It was tough sledding for the offense in the second game, falling 7-2, as the Cougars scored two or more runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.

Larkin was a bright spot, launching another home run and drawing a pair of free bases to increase her total to 23, which ranks third in the NAIA. Larkin also ranks in the top ten in home runs with nine, and Lehmann is third in doubles with 14. 

The Trojans continue Crossroads League action on Saturday, March 30, against Goshen (15-7, 4-4 CL) on the road, with the first game set to begin at 1:00 pm.