Taylor Shakes off Maple Leafs

April 11, 2009

The Taylor baseball team traveled to Goshen on Saturday to complete a home and away series. After sweeping the doubleheader at home Thursday, the Trojans looked for much of the same against the Maple Leafs on the weekend.

Game one saw Goshen find a way to win in extra innings in a tightly contested 3-2 game. Similar to Taylor's trip to Grace College last weekend, the Trojans fought back with a vengeance after losing the first game, making quick work of the Maple Leafs, 12-0, in 5 innings.

In the first game Zach Vander Laan looked to set the tone for the day. His performance merited a win, but it was Goshen's ability to strike early that allowed the Maple Leafs (5-28, 1-15) to hang around and win the game in extra innings. Vander Laan pitched the entire game and confounded the Goshen batters, retiring 18 straight at one point. But Taylor's offense could not manage more than two runs and untimely, uncharacteristic errors cost the Trojans. Zach struck out six and only allowed four hits, but it was his lone walk in the ninth that gave Goshen just enough to get the win.

Taylor could only manage 5 hits and 2 runs against the Maple Leafs. Paul Passiales had 2 hits on the day, and Ryne Otis added a hit and RBI to extend his hitting streak. TU scored both runs in the third inning to tie the game, but left 12 runners on base.

Game two was an entirely different story. The offense once again unloaded, smashing 14 hits and putting 12 runs across the plate in only 5 innings. The defense was in-sync as well in game two, behind sophomore Travis Tomaszewski. Tomaszewski gained his second shutout win in a row, pitching all 5 innings. The Maple Leafs could only manage two hits off the right hander while he struck out three.

Once again TU was lead by a platoon of offensive contributors. Eight different Trojans recorded a hit with four recording multi-hit games. Michael Kraynak and Otis were perfect at the plate. Kraynak recorded four hits and three RBIs including a home run, and Otis was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Cassidy Emery joined in the fun, and plated 4 runs in the game, adding a triple to Taylor's totals. Senior Braden Dissinger added a 2-for-3 day from the plate with 3 RBIs.

With the split, Taylor moves to 22-12 on the year, and 8-4 in the conference. The 8-4 record puts them three games behind conference leader Spring Arbor. Next up is conference foe Marian College (19-19), at 8-8 in the MCC standings. Taylor travels to Indianapolis to face the Knights on Wednesday, April 15. Game one starts at 4:00 pm.