Baseball Battles Grace, Stays Atop MCC

April 04, 2009

After starting off 4-0 in conference play, the Taylor Baseball faced off against Grace College for a second time in three days Saturday. Taylor dropped the first game in extra innings by the final score of 13-12, but came back to smash the Lancers in a 14-0 run-rule shortened game two.

In game one, Taylor's potent offense started off by scoring four runs in the first inning. From there the Trojans seemed to be in control as a 9-1 lead was taken into the seventh inning, but the Lancers fought to the last out, tying up the game with an 8-run seventh. Taylor again took the lead with a 3-run ninth inning, but for a second time Grace battled back with their backs against the wall and took the game 13-12 in the bottom of the ninth.

The stats show a high powered offensive game, as both teams recorded 17 hits. For Taylor the offensive leaders for the game were Paul Passiales and Ryne Otis. Passiales went 4-for-5 on the day with a double, while Otis went 3-for-4 recording a double and 3 RBIs. Seven Trojan batters recorded an RBI and each starter added a hit to the offensive output.

Taylor started sophomore Zach Vander Laan on the mound. Vander Laan pitched six solid innings, scattering six hits and one run while striking out six. Three Trojan pitchers tried to complete the game, but closer Michael Kraynak picked up the loss after two innings pitched.

After suffering the loss in game one, Taylor came into game two with a fervor and determination. Again the Trojan offense was on display as Taylor scored five runs in the first two innings. The third inning was the only inning TU did not score, as four runs in the fourth and five in the fifth led to a fourteen run lead.

After starting pitcher Travis Tomaszewski pitched a scoreless fifth inning, Taylor picked up their 19th win on the season and a fifth conference victory. Tomaszewski allowed only 5 hits, and recorded 2 strikeouts in the complete game win, his second on the season.

The Trojan offense continued to pound the ball, recording 14 hits in 5 innings. Leading the way were Kraynak, Nassar, Otis and Cassidy Emery. Kraynak was 3-for-3 with a double, Nassar recorded 2 doubles, while Emery went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Otis continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-3 outing to go along with two more RBIs.

After the battle with Grace, Taylor still sits atop the Mid-Central College Conference standings with a 5-1 record. The Trojans' 19 wins are also tops in the conference. With Huntington scheduled to visit Upland on Tuesday for a doubleheader, Taylor looks to take hold of the conference race. Game one first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.