Trojans Explode for 22 Runs in Game 2 of Calderone Classic

GLENDALE, Ariz. – No. 9 Taylor (2-0) thumped Nelson 22-2 on a rainy Friday afternoon as the Trojans piled up a whopping 22 hits on Day 2 at the Coach Calderone Classic, hosted at Arizona Christian University Baseball Field.

TU's lineup generated multiple runs in every inning except the third, including five runs pushed across in the fifth frame for a commanding 14-1 advantage. The Trojans featured 11 different individuals recording at least one base knock, and seven with multiple hits.

Brayden Manning (4-for-6) led the way with four hits and two RBIs, while Jordan Malott (2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB) and Sam Gladd (2-for-5, HR) each drove in five runs. Gladd homered for the second straight game and raised his career home run total to 38 – three shy of second place on the TU all-time career home run list.

Ben Kennedy delivered a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs on a two-run double and RBI triple. Fletcher Roemmich also produced a pair of runs off a double and triple in a 3-for-3 showing off the bench. Luke Sutter (2-for-4, 2 BB) added a pair of knocks and scored five runs, while transfer Kaden Wu went 2-for-2 in his Trojan debut.

On the mound, Nathan Frady was solid in relief and struck out a career-high eight batters. The junior right hander retired seven of the first eight batters he faced and allowed just one hit over 4.1 innings.

Nick Crabtree made his first appearance since last season in Arizona, while freshmen Zane Cline and Hunter Doran made their collegiate debuts. Doran struck out six batters over the final three frames.

The Trojans jumped ahead 4-1 in the opening frame and never looked back. Nate Simpson opened with a leadoff double before Malott drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at 1-1. Gladd followed with an RBI single through the right side, and Kennedy plated two more with a double to deep center.

TU extended the lead to 7-1 in the second as Simpson reached on a hit by pitch and three consecutive hits from Sutter, Manning and Malott followed.

The Trojans produced back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth from Kennedy and Brennan Frickel to build a 9-1 cushion before breaking the game open in the fifth. Taylor pushed five runs across on four hits, including a three-run blast from Gladd. Kennedy scored again after lacing a triple down the right-field line.

The advantage grew to 17-1 in the sixth. Wu delivered a pinch-hit single in his first at-bat as a Trojan before Roemmich drove in a run with a triple. Sutter plated Roemmich with a groundout, and Malott capped the frame with an RBI double. Roemmich added an RBI double in the eighth to close the scoring.

Nelson (1-1) managed just five hits in the contest and scored single runs in the first and ninth innings. Warriors starter Esteban Acevedo (0-1) absorbed the loss after surrendering five earned runs on six hits over two innings. Nelson used seven pitchers in the game.

Taylor closes its opening weekend Saturday with a ranked matchup against No. 15 ACU. First pitch is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at ACU Baseball Field.