Trojans Advance to MCC Championship Game
May 05, 2009
For the second time in as many days the Taylor University baseball team faced Bethel College in the Mid-Central College Conference tournament at Indiana Wesleyan. Avenging yesterday's loss, the Trojans advance to the championship game with a 7-2 victory.
Taylor escaped two early inning jams in which Bethel connected on two hits, but left four runners on base. Right fielder Nate Hillery supported the offensive effort with a home run in the bottom of the second that jump started the Taylor offense. Typical of their season trend, the Trojans scored two two-out runs thanks to hits by Michael Nassar and MCC Player of the Year, Michael Kraynak.
Carrying a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning, Nassar highlighted the bottom of the frame with a RBI triple that scored Wade Rychener. Two batters later Ryne Otis sent Nassar home with a double to push the Trojans' lead to five runs. Otis has recorded a hit in 27 of his last 28 games.
Taylor's hits leader delivered again in the seventh inning scoring Matt Maple and extending the lead to 6-0. Nassar capped off his 4-for-5 outing with his third RBI of the game in the eighth inning to make the score 7-0.
Making his second start of the MCC tournament, Taylor Kinzer dominated the mound again pitching a complete game and improving his season record to a perfect 7-0. The Trojans' strike-out leader added six more to push his season total to 54.
"It was an incredible performance on just two days rest," Head Coach Kyle Gould said. "He handled a really good line up and just pitched a really good game on such little rest."
The win puts Taylor in the MCC championship game of the double elimination tournament against Bethel College. The Trojans and Pilots will meet for the third time this postseason on Wednesday at 12:00 pm on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan.
A win in the conference championship game will give Taylor its second conference tournament championship in the last four years, and the school's first NAIA National Tournament bid since 1969.