Manning Belts Grand Slam as No. 3 Taylor Sweeps Bethel, Extends Win Streak to 10
UPLAND, Ind. – No. 3 Taylor has never been better through 30 games, and Saturday's doubleheader against Bethel was a thorough reminder why.
The Trojans rolled to a 12-2 run-rule victory in the opener before finishing off an 11-4 win in the nightcap at Winterholter Field, extending their winning streak to 10 games and improving to 28-3 overall and 16-2 in Crossroads League play — the best 30-game start in program history.
Brayden Manning authored the afternoon's signature moment in the fourth inning of Game 1. With the bases loaded and TU already ahead 2-0 after a wild sequence of walks, hit batters and a Bethel throwing error, Manning turned on an 0-1 pitch and drove it over the left-center field wall for a grand slam that blew the game open at 8-0. It was Manning's second career grand slam — his first came two seasons ago against Indiana Wesleyan.
Fletcher Roemmich paced the Game 1 offense with a 2 for 3 day that included two doubles, a sacrifice fly and four RBIs. Brennan Frickel went 3 for 3 with a double, his third three-hit performance of the season. Frickel, who entered the day as the Crossroads League's leader in batting average (.453), is hitting .633 (19 for 30) during an active 10-game hitting streak with seven multi-hit outings during that span.
Luke Sutter was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI, and Tyler Klemme drew a bases-loaded walk for an RBI in the eighth. TU's lineup worked six walks and forced six Bethel hit batters across the opener.
TU's pitching staff was equally commanding. Brody Fine held Bethel hitless into the third inning and departed after four scoreless frames with seven strikeouts. Lane Lewis earned the win in relief, striking out six over three innings of work, and Hunter Doran closed it out in the eighth. The three combined to allow zero earned runs on eight hits while fanning 15.
Adam Walters led the Bethel offense in the opener with a 3 for 4 performance, while Jordan Landkrohn and Liam Paden each drove in a run.
The nightcap followed a familiar path. TU plated three runs in the first inning and four more in the second to build a 7-1 cushion.
Manning collected three hits in that game — going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI — and Jordan Malott went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, including a two-run single in the second. Frickel added an RBI double and Luke MacDonald contributed an RBI single in that four-run second frame. Roemmich and Sutter each added a hit as well, going 1 for 3 apiece.
Jake Boyer picked up the win after 2.1 hitless innings out of the bullpen with four strikeouts, and Gage Gongwer added two scoreless frames with three punchouts of his own. The Trojans collected nine hits in the nightcap and committed no errors, while the Pilots were charged with five defensive miscues.
Bethel (6-18, 4-14 CL) rallied for three runs in the seventh inning of Game 2. Angel Alicea went 2 for 3 with two RBI, including the single that started the rally, and Jordan Landkrohn added an RBI single. But the deficit was already too steep. The Pilots were charged with seven combined errors across the doubleheader and walked 12 Taylor batters on the day.
No. 3 Taylor and Bethel will complete the four-game series with Monday's 2 p.m. doubleheader at Winterholter Field.