Trojans Fall to #7 Union in Opener

February 14, 2009

The Taylor baseball team faced 7th-ranked Union (KY) in their season opener on Saturday, losing two, one-run games to the Bulldogs, 9-8 and 3-2.

In the opener TU wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard when Paul Passiales got on via an error, moved to second on Matt Maple's single, then scored on a Taylor Kinzer single.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in their half of inning, but were then shut down by Kinzer through the fourh inning.

Union added one run in the fifth, but the Trojans responded with two more in the top of the sixth to narrow the gap to 4-3. The 'dogs added another run in the bottom of the inning to regain their two-run gap.

In the seventh Taylor put three runs on the board as Michael Nassar, Passiales, and Maples crossed the plate to take a 6-5 lead, but it was short-lived as Union bounced back with two more to go in front by a 7-6 margin.

The battle continued into the eighth inning when TU's Taylor Wilde reached on a fielder's choice, moved around the bases on a hit by Passiales and scored on a Michael Kraynak single. Passiales scored his fourth run of the day as well on the Kraynak hit.

Unfortunately, Union returned the favor in their half of the inning when they scored two runs on a single to take a 9-8 lead which TU was not able to match in the ninth.

TU bats accounted for 11 hits with Passiales and Kraynak tallying three each. Kraynak also totaled tw RBIs. Defense, which in the early season can be slow in arriving, was perfect as the Trojans committed no errors.

Caleb Stertzer was tagged with the loss.

While game one was a slugfest, the nightcap was an offensive struggle as pitching came on strong for both squads.

Consecutive singles from Passiales and Maple allowed Kraynak to bring one run home on a single, then Cassidy Emery's hit pushed Maple across the plate for a 2-0 lead.

In similar fashion, Union scored a run with singles in the bottom of the first.

The Bulldogs used a double and a single in the fourth to knot the score at 2-2, the scored the go ahead run in the fifth with two singles and a sacrifice fly.

Neither team could mount an offensive attack from this point on and Union claimed a 3-2 win.

Zach Vander Laan started the game on the mound, and was relieved by Matt Kirkendale in the fourth. Travis Carsten threw the final two innings, picking up the loss.

Kraynak had two hits and one run batted in the lead the Trojans.

Next weekend the Trojans head to Bryan College (TN) for a tournament.