Taylor Takes One of Two on the Road

April 04, 2009

Taylor Softball came into the day ready to stamp their mark on MCC competition after battling the ninth-ranked Bethel Pilots on Thursday. For a game and a half on the road versus St. Francis, the Trojans looked ready to stake their claim. Taylor won the first game 8-2. Looking for the sweep TU started off well, but in softball, momentum swings are big parts of the game. The Cougars fought back, gained momentum and gained the split on a walk-off hit.

In game one Taylor's bats found their stride as they pounded out 12 hits. The offensive output, combined with St. Francis' four errors, paved the way for 8 runs to be scored. The fourth inning provided most of the fireworks, as four runs scored, and every batter stepped to the plate in the inning. TU added three runs in the top of the seventh making the final score 8-2.

On the mound for Taylor was Jill Tomaszewski, who shut down the Cougar lineup by striking out 8 batters. The senior also only allowed four hits and two runs, as St. Francis could not muster the offense needed to stay with the Trojans allowing Taylor to win comfortably. The 8 strikeouts now lifts her total to 60 on the year. It was also her fourth win.

Four Trojans recorded multiple hits on the game. Leadoff batter Laurie Shumaker went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs to lead Taylor. Fellow seniors Lindsey Arnold and Tomaszewski added 2 hits as well, with Tomaszewski also driving in 3 runs. Freshman Alyssa Brodbeck was in the thick of things as she went 2-for-4 on the day, but crossed the plate three times to lead the Trojans in runs scored.

Game two started off where the first left off, as Taylor scored 4 runs in the first three innings while accumulating 8 hits. Leading the way were Shumaker, Laura Strode and Lindsey Arnold, each of whom hit a double and had a run batted in.

Given the lead early, freshman Kristen Bauer pitched well. Bauer only allowed one hit in each inning and no runs during the first three innings. In the fourth the Cougars rallied with two outs, and a double steal to score a run shifted momentum in St. Francis' favor. Bauer ended up pitching 4 and 1/3 innings with a strikeout and 2 runs on 6 hits. Coming in relief was Jess Fankhauser who pitched well in her 2 1/3 innings. Fankhauser struck out three.

Unfortunately for Taylor, the early offense was hard to come by in the latter half of the game, as they managed one hit and a walk. Even well hit balls could not find a hole for the Trojans. Leading 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh the ball never bounced quite the right way for TU. Infield hits and close calls went the Cougars way and with 2 outs and the bases loaded, a bunt forced a close play at first where TU couldn't get the out and St. Francis walked off with the split.

After the split, Taylor moves their record to 12-14 and 2-4 in the MCC. St. Francis raises their record to 7-19 and 1-7. Taylor climbs to sixth in the conference, only 1 game out of fourth place.

Taylor now faces a tough week with 3 matchups in 5 days as the Trojans continue to fight upward in the MCC standings. First up is a non-conference matchup at home as Taylor hosts St. Joseph's (Ind.) at 3:00 on Tuesday, April 7.