TROJANS SWEEP WILDCATS

Box Score #1 | Box Score #2

The Taylor University baseball team picked up two hard-earned wins over cross-county rival Indiana Wesleyan on Thursday by the scores of 2-1 in 10 innings and 9-5. The wins improve the Trojans' record to 24-12 and 10-4 in the Mid-Central Conference. Indiana Wesleyan drops to 14-30 and 5-13 in the conference.

Defense highlighted game one as both teams struggled to move the score board. The Wildcats recorded 11 hits in the game, but stranded nine base runners. Michael Kraynak pitched the final five innings and recorded his third win of the season by striking out six of 18 batters faced.

Matt Maple was responsible for both Trojan runs crossing the plate twice, including the game winner off a Cassidy Emery bases-loaded walk.

The offense picked up steam for both teams in game two. Indiana Wesleyan took an early 4-1 lead after the first inning, but Taylor responded with five runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth for a 9-5 victory.

Taylor Wilde led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 outing including one run scored and one RBI. Kraynak and Taylor Kinzer joined Wilde with multi-hit games, each going 2-for-5 from the plate and combining for three RBI.

Chris Howell pitched a complete game, adding three more strikeouts for a team-leading season total of 42.

The two conference foes will face off again on Saturday at Taylor University, but not before the Trojans travel to Marian College for a make-up game with the Knights on Friday. First pitch of today's doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.