RV Taylor Completes Four-Game Sweep of Goshen
UPLAND, Ind. – Behind another dominant offensive outing, combined with strong pitching throughout the afternoon, RV Taylor completed its four-game sweep of Goshen with two more convincing victories. The Purple and Gold scored 12 runs in the final three innings of game one to defeat the Maple Leafs, 14-2, before Luke Carlson, Garrett Simmons, and Matt Dutkowski pitched a combined two-hitter in the Trojans' 6-1 triumph in the nightcap.
The Trojans (15-6, 4-0 CL) combined for 16 hits in the doubleheader sweep, five of which were for extra bases. Connor Crawford led the way for TU, hitting four-for-eight with two doubles, a triple, and three runs scored to go along with three runs batted in. TJ Bass also continued his offensive tear, finishing the day three-for-seven with three runs scored and three RBI, including his fourth home run of the season.
On the mound, Taylor's pitching staff shined, allowing a combined six hits and two earned runs while striking out 25 Maple Leaf batters over the course of the two-game set.
Taylor struck early in game one, scoring its first two runs in the opening frame. TU's leadoff man, Nick Rusche, opened the scoring on a Goshen wild pitch, before a Crawford RBI single plated Kade Vander Molen for the 2-0 advantage.
The Trojans were held off the scoreboard over the following five innings, but Luke Shively (3-0) shut down the Goshen offense in his five frames of work. The Mishawaka, Indiana native allowed just two hits and one run, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth frame, and struck out seven.
Mitch Ubelhor and Drake Gongwer combined to pitch the final four innings, recording nine strikeouts, including four straight from Ubelhor in the sixth and seventh frames and three from Gongwer in the ninth.
After scoring a single run in the seventh inning on another Goshen miscue, the Trojans blew the contest wide open with seven runs in the eighth and four in the ninth, turning a close game into a rout. Vander Molen and Crawford highlighted the eighth with a sacrifice fly and an RBI triple, respectively, while Bass followed with a two-run bomb to left field in the ninth to help the Trojans secure the victory.
Goshen (0-7, 0-4 CL) scored the first run of the second contest, taking its first lead of the series in the bottom of the third inning. However, the Trojans took the lead for good in the fourth on a Dutkowski RBI groundout and a balk from Goshen.
Taylor added three more runs in the fifth, all of which came via walk or a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, and Joe Lokos scored Taylor's final run in the seventh on another Goshen balk.
Simmons (1-0) earned his first win in a Taylor uniform, striking out six and giving up just one hit in 2.2 innings of work. Carlson pitched an effective 2.1 frames to start the contest, allowing just one hit and one run, while Dutkowski closed out the seven-inning affair with two scoreless innings.
The Trojans will hit the road this coming weekend, heading to Mishawaka to take on the Bethel Pilots (3-11, 1-3 CL) in a four-game set. The first doubleheader is scheduled to begin on Friday at 1:00 pm.