Kottlowski Closes a Pair of Close, Hard-Fought Victories Against Bethel

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor played a pair of nail-biters on Tuesday against Bethel, sweeping the Pilots as Katie Kottlowski earned a pair of saves in the 10-9 and 7-6 victories.

Emri Agre and Madisyn Standridge carried the offensive load, each recording five hits in the twin-billing. Agre added three runs, three RBI, and a pair of steals in her best showing of the season, while Standridge drove in a team-leading five runs out of the two-hole.

A shootout in the opener began with the Pilots plating two in the first before the Trojans responded with an unearned run in the bottom half of the frame.

Taylor took its first lead of the day in the second, as Agre had her first hit of the day to drive in Julia Vargas. Another run crossed the plate before Livie Lehmann launched an RBI double to put TU ahead 4-2.

Agre drove in another run an inning later, but the Pilots answered with three runs in the top of the fourth to knot the game at five apiece.

Both offenses took off as back-to-back doubles by Standridge and Lehmann highlighted a three-run fourth for the Trojans, and Bethel scored three more in the fifth to tie it up again at eight.

Standridge and Agre teamed up to break the deadlock as the sophomore outfielder singled and swiped second before the junior third baseman single to gain a 9-8 lead.

An insurance run in the sixth proved vital as Bethel put two runners on with nobody out in the seventh and scored a run before Kottlowski struck out the final batter looking on a changeup to collect the season.

Agre continued her terrific day, scoring the opening run of the nightcap when the center fielder dropped a fly ball in the first, while Standridge doubled the lead in the second.

Meg Stanley doubled the advantage with a home run to dead center for a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth. Two batters later, Standridge matched the senior with a long ball to left to push the lead to 5-0 before Delaynee McCreary had an RBI single to put the Trojans up 6-0.

Bethel (7-17, 2-8 CL) cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth before Agre doubled in freshman Bella Browning as the duo hit back-to-back doubles for a 7-2 advantage.

The Pilots continued their comeback in the sixth with four more runs to cut the deficit to one before Kottlowski came in relief and struck out a batter with runners on second and third to keep Taylor in front.

Kottlowski completed the save in the seventh after Bethel put runners on first and second with one out with a flyout before a fortuitous bounce ended the game as a ball headed to right field hit a Bethel runner for the final out of the night.

The lefty hurler notched two saves with three and two-thirds innings of work inside the circle. Kottlowski allowed a single run and struck out four batters in a terrific day for the junior.

Taylor (18-6, 9-3 CL) plays on the road against Saint Francis (14-6, 7-3 CL) on Wednesday, March 26, with first pitch set for 3:00 pm.