Trojans Drop a Pair of Extra-Inning Affairs Against Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. – Taylor dropped a pair of extra-inning contests against Bryan on Saturday afternoon on the road despite great performances inside the circle by Lizzy Sinders and Claire Cullen.

Sinders threw 9.1 innings without an earned run in a dazzling display for the freshman hurler. The righty delivered three strikeouts and allowed three runs, all in extra innings when a runner is placed on second to start the frame. Sinders also delivered at the plate with a team-leading four hits in the twin-billing.

Cullen was also masterful in the opening game delivering 8.2 innings of zero earned runs. The sophomore struck out seven Lions and all four runs given up were unearned.

A pitcher's duel in the nightcap saw both teams blanked before extra innings.

Taylor had opportunities in the third, fourth and fifth getting a runner in scoring position with less than two outs in each inning but came up short each time.

Sinders was cruising in the middle innings, sitting down ten straight batters and collecting two strikeouts.

The Lions threatened to walk it off in the seventh by loading the bases, but Sinders got a fly out to send the game into extras.

Both teams scored in the eighth and ninth before Taylor left a runner on third in the tenth and Bryan scored on an error to end the game and day in heartbreaking fashion for the Trojans.

The Trojans opened the scoring in the second, with Bella Browning beginning the inning with a single and scoring on a double by freshman Ava Everman with one out. Jayci Kitchen followed with a single and stole second to place a pair of runners in scoring position. Taylor failed to capitalize with a pair of quick outs.

Runs were at a premium and both teams squandered chances in the middle innings with the Lions leaving the bases loaded in the third and Taylor seeing Browning thrown out at home attempt to advance on a fly ball out.

Bryan (2-6) capitalized in the fifth with a pair of unearned runs after loading the bases with two outs to take its first lead of the game.  

Taylor rallied in the top of the seventh and loaded the bases with one out and for Livie Lehmann coming to the plate. The senior skied a ball to right which plated the tying run before a groundout ended any chance to take the lead.

The game headed to extras and TU scored a run after Addison Messer singled in Delaynee McCreary with two outs for a 3-2 lead.

Bryan scored quickly in the bottom half of the inning on a passed ball and had a runner in scoring position with nobody out, but Cullen threw out a runner at home and was able to get out of the inning without any more damage.

Taylor failed to score in the ninth and Bryan scored on a sacrifice fly to end the game in the bottom of the inning.

Taylor (1-3) continues its early season on the road with a doubleheader scheduled against Oakland City (0-4) on Friday, February 20th set to have first pitch thrown at 3:00 pm.