Lehmann Leads Offensive Explosion in Sweep of Bethel
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The Trojan offense exploded for 20 runs over two victories over Bethel (5-15, 1-5 CL), 6-0 and 14-2, on Saturday on the road as Livie Lehmann was nearly unstoppable throughout the day.
Lehmann reached base in seven of her eight plate appearances, smashing three doubles and a home run to go along with a single and two walks. The amazing sophomore shortstop drove in four runs and scored four times to conclude a week in which she hit .632, with seven doubles and a pair of long balls.
Emily Guthrie also made the most of her recent playing time, delivering a trio of hits on the day. The freshman had a pair of two-baggers and drove in three runs while scoring twice and swiping two bases.
The pitching was highly effective all afternoon, allowing two runs through 12 innings of action. Mady Foy was efficient inside the circle and controlled the first game from the get-go. The sensational sophomore allowed only five baserunners in six innings and struck out four to earn her fourth win of the year. Katie Kottlowski pitched four innings in the second game for her third win of the year, and Mackenzie Noah pitched a scoreless inning of relief in each.
TU (11-9, 3-3 CL) opened the day with a 6-0, before the Trojans run-ruled the Pilots, 14-2, in five innings in the finale.
Taylor manufactured its' first run of the day in the top of the fourth. Jersey Tannehill singled up the middle to begin the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a defensive error.
The offense continued its momentum in the fifth. Aleyah Rastetter singled to left, and Lehmann followed with a base on balls to place two on with nobody out. After advancing on a sacrifice bunt, the runners seemed destined to be left stranded, as has often happened this season. Tannehill rewrote the script and continued her perfect game at the plate with a two-RBI base hit to triple the advantage.
Freshmen Guthrie and Madison Raley began the sixth by getting on base, and Rastetter drove one run in with a single before the TU single-season doubles holder, Lehmann, lined a shot to left-center to drive in a pair, and TU coasted to victory afterward.
The offense continued to roll to start the second game, scoring nine runs in the opening two frames, capitalizing on a trio of errors from Bethel and drawing five walks, while Lehmann laced a double in each inning.
TU rolled the rest of the way with 13 players recording a walk or base hit in the contest, scoring four runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a solo home run by Lehmann.
After sweeping Bethel, the Trojans will return to Gudakunst Field on Tuesday, March 19, to face cross-county rival No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan (15-3, 6-0 CL) in a doubleheader, with the first pitch of the opener set for 4:00 pm.