Kottlowski’s Gem Salvages Split to Open the Season

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Katie Kottlowski's threw a complete game to earn a 3-2 victory in the nightcap after Taylor dropped the season opener in walk-off fashion on Friday in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Kottlowski allowed two runs, and only one earned run in a sensational outing inside the circle. The Royals managed just six hits and on walk as the senior lefty silenced the offense and added two strikeouts to get the victory.

Taylor scored all three of its runs in the first inning after Madisyn Standridge walked and Lizzy Sinders singled. Standridge scored on a wild pitch before Livie Lehmann stepped to the plate and launched a line-drive home run down the left field line for the early 3-0 lead.

Johnson got a run back via an error in the bottom of the second to close the gap to two, but both offenses struggled to get anything going for much of the game.

The Trojans' best chance came in the fourth with two on and one out. Two hard groundouts ended the chance to get any insurance runs for TU.

Kottlowski gave up a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to Dylan Jablonski which cut the lead to the narrowest of margins at 3-2 going into the final frame.

Johnson (1-1) got a runner in scoring position in the seventh but a line drive to Lehmann at second led to a double play to end the game in an instance.

Trailing by five entering the final inning of play in the opener, Taylor rallied to take the lead with six runs, capped by a three-run home run by senior second baseman Lehmann. Addison Messer reached on a single followed by another by pinch-hitter Grace Mullins with one out to start the rally. Standridge and Sinders notched RBI singles after an error plated a run to get TU within two.

The Royals were unfazed and leveled the game within the first two batters after a single and a double. A deep fly ball with a runner on third provided the walk-off winner for Johnson (1-1) in the opener.

Trailing by one, TU scored five in the top of the third. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Lehmann, who reached on a dropped fly ball to score one. Delaynee McCreary stepped up and delivered the big hit of the inning, a bases-clearing double before Bella Browning singled in McCreary to give TU a 5-1 lead.

The Royals came back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs and forcing TU to bring in two relievers inside the circle. The first seven batters reached while TU struggled with command, walking or hitting seven batters in the frame.

Lehmann launched a pair of home runs to begin the year and tallied a team-high five RBI to begin the year in brilliant fashion at the plate. McCreary belted a pair of doubles and reached base six times in an impressive outing.

Kottlowski (1-0) not only delivered the complete game victory in the second game but also pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless ball in the opener as the best hurler for the Trojans on Friday.

Taylor (1-1) finishes its Tennessee trip with a doubleheader against Bryan (0-6) on Saturday, February 14th, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am.