TROJANS PLATE 19 RUNS TO SWEEP EAGLES

While the nation watched the opening round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, the Taylor University baseball team took to the diamond and made quick work of the Cincinnati Christian Eagles, picking up two wins on Thursday afternoon, 11-1 and 8-4.

Sophomore Chris Howell (1-0) took the mound in game one for the Trojans and struck out seven of the 15 Eagle batters he faced. He recorded his first win of the season in just four innings of work.

The Trojan bats were once again hot as they recorded 11 hits and just one strikeout on their way to a mercy rule 10-run win in five innings. Senior Paul Passiales was a perfect 2-for-2 on the day and junior Michael Kraynak recorded two hits on two at-bats, including a pair of triples and five RBIs.

Winners in eight of their last ten outings, Taylor (12-6) compiled a big fourth inning, scoring eight runs on six hits and a Cincinnati Christian error.

Freshman ace Travis Tomaszewski (1-0) was the star of game two as he carried a perfect game through three of his four innings pitched. He picked up the win by tallying five strikeouts and allowing just one earned run on two hits.

Passiales, who ranks eighth in the NAIA with 1.9 hits per game, led the Trojan offense again with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate adding three runs scored and one RBI. Kraynak and sophomore Taylor Kinzer chipped in two RBIs apiece on a combined 3-for-4 outing.

Taylor's offensive explosion came in the third inning when they recorded four runs on four hits to build a 6-0 lead. Cincinnati Christian found an offensive groove in the late innings when Joshua Taylor connected on a two-run home run in the sixth and Nick Westfall hit a solo shot in the seventh.

The Trojans begin a seven-game Spring Break trip through Georgia on Monday, March 23. Taylor opens with a three-game set against #21-ranked Berry College in Rome, Georgia, followed by two doubleheaders against Reinhardt and Atlanta Christian.