Clutch Plays Lead Trojans to a Pair of One-Run Victories Over Spring Arbor

UPLAND, Ind. – On a day when the Trojans' bats went cold, the fielding and pitching stepped up to deliver a pair of one-run victories over Spring Arbor on Monday night at Gudakunst Field.

The offense was hot early, scoring three runs in the first inning of the day and leaving the bases loaded to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Kaylee Larkin began the hit parade with a home run to deep left field in her first game hitting out of the two-hole. Emri Agre drove in another run with a bases-loaded single as the caboose of three straight base knocks.

Runs proved hard to find after that until a two-run home run in the third inning from Spring Arbor, who scored every one of their runs via the long ball in the opener.

Taylor held a one-run lead until the bottom of the fifth when Madisyn Standridge started a two-out rally with a walk. The junior stole second before her classmate, Delaynee McCreary, drove her in with a double to left-center field to get breathing room at 4-2.

The Cougars responded with a pair of solo home runs to tie the game at four in the sixth.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh with the score level, the Trojans had the top of the order at the plate. Larkin drew her second walk of the contest, and Claire Duncan pinch-ran for her at first. Livie Lehmann roped a double to right-center field to put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out. Standridge came to the plate and roped a line drive on the first pitch directly to the shortstop, who caught it and then threw the ball away in an attempt to double up Duncan at third. The freshman raced home for the winning run on a bizarre play to give TU a 5-4 win.

Mackenzie Noah (4-2) was terrific inside the circle outside of the long balls, holding the Cougars to four runs on eight hits and striking out three without giving a free pass to any hitter throughout the game.

The nightcap followed a similar story as two freshmen, Jayci Kitchen and Hannah Lickey, teamed up to deliver a first-inning run for the Trojans. Kitchen singled to begin the frame and advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a single through the left side by Lickey.

Claire Cullen (6-1) was dealing inside the circle, allowing just a single run in the third on a wild pitch. The righty allowed just two base knocks and stranded six runners on in a complete game victory.

The Trojans had runners in scoring position with less than two outs in both the fourth and fifth innings but were unable to cash in to keep the score level at one.

Lickey continued her terrific game with a double to left-center field to lead off the bottom of the sixth. McCreary notched her second hit of the day with a single to left to put runners on the corners with one out. McCreary stole second with one out, and after a strikeout, Bella Browning came to the plate. The freshman battled and sent a shot down the right field line, which toed the line into fair territory, and Lickey came around to score for a one-run advantage heading into the seventh.

Cullen saved her best for the final inning. Holding a slim one-run lead and a runner at second with nobody out, the freshman hurler fanned two straight Cougars on full counts before inducing a weak grounder to first after another long at-bat to finish off Spring Arbor and complete the sweep.

Taylor (13-5, 4-2 CL) heads on the road to face Huntington (11-7, 0-4 CL) in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 18, beginning at 3:00 pm.