Softball Scores Senior-Day Sweep
April 25, 2009
The Taylor University softball team celebrated senior day with two wins over St. Mary-of-the-Woods College by scores of 4-3 and 6-5.
Both teams struggled to score early in game one, but the Trojans broke the scoreboard freeze with a run in the fourth inning. St. Mary-of-the-Woods matched the effort in the top of the fifth to knot the score at 1-1.
Freshman Laura Strode loosened up the 1-1 tie with a two-RBI triple in the fifth inning. Liz Lewellen followed up with an RBI single to give Taylor three runs in the frame and a 4-1 lead.
SMWC threatened with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but senior Jill Tomaszewksi nearly single-handedly ended the game. Taylor's strikeout leader added four strikeouts to her season total (86) and supported her cause with four put-outs and three assists.
Laurie Schumaker, Strode and Lewellen all tallied two hits for the game to lead the Trojans.
Game two required some late inning theatrics and help from underclassmen to secure the win.
The Trojan defense escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the third with a 1-1 tie, and Liz Lewellen and Lindsey Arnold capitalized on the defensive effort in the bottom of the same inning. Lewellen connected on a two-out double and Arnold followed with a two-run home run.
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, SMWC blasted three hits to the center field fence to post four runs and take a 5-3 lead. Taylor would be thankful for the third-inning defensive stand when they faced a two-run hole in the bottom of the seventh.
Following two walks, Lewellen loaded the bases with no outs. Alyssa Brodbeck took advantage with a two-RBI double to tie the game. Two batters later with the bases loaded once again and one out, senior Lindsey Stone knocked in the winning run to give the Trojans the 6-5 win.
Lewellen led all batters with a perfect 4-for-4 outing in game two and was 6-for-7 on the day. Jessica Fankhauser recorded the game two win with nine strikeouts.
Taylor concludes the regular season with a 16-22 record and 4-12 in the Mid-Central Conference. The MCC Conference Tournament will be hosted by Indiana Wesleyan, beginning on Tuesday, April 28. The Trojans' first round opponent and game time will be announced later this weekend.