Rastetter’s Game-Winner Caps Off Sweep of Saint Francis

Broadcast Highlights | Standridge Play At Third Base

UPLAND, Ind. – After dominating the opening game 10-2, Taylor used a late comeback finished off by an Aleyah Rastetter single to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth of a 4-3 victory in the nightcap. 

Rastetter came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth with the game knotted at three and two outs, and Brooke Sanchez on second after a single and advancing on a sacrifice bunt. The senior center fielder delivered with a line-drive single to right to plate the winning run in a tense nightcap. 

The game had been tied at 2-2 since the third inning, before Saint Francis hit a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth, which was immediately answered by a leadoff no-doubter by Madisyn Standridge to put the teams on even terms once again. 

Standridge was busy manning the hot corner and came up with a huge defensive play in the top of the fifth when she blocked a sharp ground ball with her body before diving back to third for a force out to end the inning and the Cougar threat. 

Delaynee McCreary got the scoring going in the second game with an opposite-field blast for her second home run of the past three games.

Saint Francis (17-24, 10-18 CL) briefly took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third after beginning the inning with a pair of looping singles to right, both of which came around to score. 

Taylor (25-17, 17-11 CL) answered right back, as was the theme of the nightcap, with a trio of base hits with two outs to tie the game at a pair.

Mackenzie Noah was solid, pitching the complete game and striking out four Cougars to get her 12th win of the year and 33rd of her career, as she currently sits in fifth all-time in program history.  

In the opener, Saint Francis got ahead early, scoring on a pair of two-baggers for a 2-0 lead before TU had an opportunity themselves.

Taylor took full advantage of two free bases in the bottom of the inning when Standridge ripped a single to the opposite field to cut the deficit in half and get Delaney Barton to the plate. Barton, known for her clutch hitting, delivered once again, sending a shot to center that rode the wind and gave the sophomore her third home run of the year and her first grand slam since hitting a walk-off slam a year ago. 

The lead continued to balloon from there, scoring in each of the next two frames, highlighted by a first-pitch into-the-crosswind bomb from Rastetter for her first home run of the season and 17th of her career, which puts her into a tie for tenth in program history. 

Mady Foy got her ninth win of the season by shutting down the Cougars after the first frame. The sophomore navigated eight hits throughout five innings, allowing only a pair of runs in the first and striking out two in an efficient outing as neither Trojan pitcher walked a batter. 

Taylor is set to host Crossroads League Foe Huntington (20-24, 12-18 CL) on Saturday, April 20 for Senior Day, with festivities beginning at 12:30 pm and the opener to follow at 1:00 pm.