Taylor Drops a Pair of Close Contests Against Goshen

GOSHEN, Ind. – Taylor dropped a pair of one-run ballgames on Friday on the road against Goshen (13-19, 7-11 CL) as the offense racked up 27 hits but left 18 runners on base.

Kaylee Larkin became Taylor softball's career leader in walks as she recorded a pair to reach 82 and surpass Aleyah Rastetter. Bella Browning was the standout overall offensively, notching six hits and a pair of two-baggers, while Lizzy Sinders and Jayci Kitchen had four hits apiece.

The Trojans started brightly as the first five batters reached, with Sinders and Kitchen crossing the plate. An opportunity for more was wasted as the bases were loaded with nobody out but three straight outs prevented TU from adding more to the early lead.

The Maple Leafs piled on eight runs between the second and third innings to gain an 8-4 advantage.

Larkin blasted a no-doubt home run to left to halve the deficit in the fourth, but Goshen responded with two more runs to push the lead back to four.

Katie Kottlowski was solid in relief, firing three and one third innings allowing two runs. The senior southpaw collected one strikeout but kept the Maple Leafs offense at by in the fifth and sixth to give TU an opportunity to comeback.

Taylor had clawed to within a pair in the final frame and Madisyn Standridge opened it with a double to give life to the Trojans. The senior scored on a wild pitch and Browning ripped a double to put a runner in scoring position with two outs and the dangerous Larkin at the plate. Larkin grounded out to end the game unfortunately.

Larkin got TU on the board in the third inning of game two with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Sinders, who reached on a walk. Goshen knotted things at one in the bottom of the inning and eventually took the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run by Camryn Barrows, who also earned the save in each game.

The Trojans had a steady stream of baserunners, notching ten hits and two walks but could not get a timely hit, leaving eight runners on base.

Standridge started another rally in the ninth with a single and scored on a double by Browning with two outs. Larkin had the chance to be the hero once again but struck out looking to end the game with the tying run in scoring position.

Claire Cullen was terrific inside the circle all game for TU, pitching six inning and surrendering three runs while striking out three.

Taylor (16-15, 11-8 CL) had its scheduled doubleheader on Saturday against Mount Vernon Nazarene (16-14, 9-11 CL) moved to Wednesday, April 8th, with first pitch set for 3:00 pm. The Trojans will face Bethel (6-24, 2-16 CL) a day earlier at Gudakunst Field with a start time of 3:00 pm.