Taylor Baseball Defeats Butler, 7-3
March 03, 2009
The Taylor University baseball team scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to come from behind and beat NCAA Division I Butler University, 7-3, in the Bulldogs' home opener Tuesday afternoon.
It was the second win over Butler in as many seasons for the Trojans, who also defeated Charleston Southern in 2007, to run their win streak over Division I opponents to three games.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, trailing by one run, Taylor right fielder Nathan Hillery hit a triple into right field to give the Trojans the lead for good. Taylor Wilde then picked up his second straight hit and 2 RBIs for the game when he drove in Hillery on a single up the middle to complete the four-run inning.
After Butler (1-3) went up 1-0 after one inning, Taylor scored their first run of the game on a squeeze bunt by Wilde that drove in Hillery to even the score.
Taylor (4-3) took their first lead of the game when a Taylor Kinzer single plated Matt Maple for a 2-1 Taylor advantage after three innings.
The Butler offense got going with two runs on three doubles in the fourth inning to go up 3-2. Coming on in relief of Kinzer, who started the game for Taylor, Caleb Stertzer struck out the first batter he faced and then forced a double play ball to get out of a bases load jam.
Supported by the four-run seventh inning, pitcher Zach Vander Laan came in and gave up only one hit in the final four innings to secure his second win of the season. The sophomore walked two and struck out three Bulldogs.
Taylor bats collected seven hits in the game, while Butler had nine. The error column showed three for Butler and no errors for Taylor.
Maple scored three of Taylor's seven runs in the game. Wilde and catcher Paul Passiales each had two hits.
Butler second baseman Jason Jamerson was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI to lead the Bulldogs at the plate.
The Trojans return to action when they travel to IU Southeast (4-5) for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Both sets feature a 1 p.m. first pitch.