Early Offense Sparks Season-Opening Split After Extra-Innings Loss

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Taylor secured a season-opening split against Indiana Tech by scoring five runs in the first three innings of the nightcap and held on for a 5-3 victory after a brutal extra-inning loss in the first game of the day.

The win gave Doug Gower his 400th career victory, with 29 of those coming at Taylor after piling up 371 in a terrific coaching career at Huntington.

After a tough-to-swallow extra-inning loss in the opener, the Trojan offense came out and scored a pair in the top of the first to take control of the game early. Jayci Kitchen singled to lead off the frame and cross the plate quickly as Madisyn Standridge laced a double. Standridge doubled the lead on a double steal with Julia Vargas, who pinch-ran for Kaylee Larkin after a base on balls.

After the Warriors halved the lead in the second, the Trojans responded with a trio of runs to extend the lead to 5-1. Standridge walked to start the inning, and Livie Lehmann and Larkin followed with back-to-back RBI doubles. Larkin then scored on an infield error to complete the scoring.

Indiana Tech scored a pair in the bottom of the third, but Claire Cullen left two stranded as she was solid in her collegiate debut, earning a victory with five frames of three-run ball. The freshman struck out five and was brilliant under pressure, stranding at least one runner in every inning.

Katie Kottlowski relived Cullen in the sixth and pitched two scoreless frames to earn her first save of the year and fourth of her career, placing her in a tie for fifth all-time in program history.

The opening game of the day was a pitchers-duel, which turned chaotic in the seventh frame. Taylor trailed by a run going into their final at-bat and tied the game on a Meg Stanley single to center, which rolled between the center fielders legs and to the wall, allowing Delaynee McCreary to race to the plate after singling and stealing second with one out. Emri Agre pinch ran and scored on a single by pinch-hitter Grace Mullins, who worked a terrific at-bat before punching a line drive into left-center field.

TU couldn't hold the lead, with the lead-off batter reaching and scoring after an errant throw on a stolen base attempt, rolling to the wall and giving the runner a free pass to score and tie things up at three.

Neither squad scored in the eighth after Taylor stranded the lead-off hitter at third, and Indiana Tech (1-1) took advantage in the ninth, scoring the winning run before an out was recorded.

Mackenzie Noah was good in the circle, tossing eight innings of three-run ball. Noah allowed six hits and three walks and stuck out a trio of batters in a solid start to her senior season.

The top of the order picked up where it left off last season as Standridge, Lehmann, and Larkin all smacked a pair of doubles in the twin-billing, with each crossing the plate one or more times as well.

Taylor (1-1) stays on the road to face IU Columbus (0-4) on Friday, February 28, in a doubleheader, with first pitch set for 12:00 pm.