Clutch Hitting Fuels Trojans to Sweep Over Oakland City

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Clutch hitting throughout the day led Taylor to a pair of victories over Oakland City (0-6) on the road on Friday afternoon.

Ava Everman was outstanding at the plate driving in six RBI and lacing a pair of doubles in the freshman's breakout performance. Jayci Kitchen was great in the nine-hole adding three RBI and a pair of hits. Bella Browning scored three runs with three hits in the nightcap.

Taylor capitalized on a litany of miscues by the home squad. Madisyn Standridge reached on a dropped third strike before an error allowed Lizzy Sinders to join her on the basepaths. Grace Mullins walked to load the bases and after an out, another error moved everyone up 60 feet and got Browning on first. Everman delivered the only base hit in the inning for TU with a two-RBI single for an early 3-0 lead.

The Mighty Oaks scored twice in the bottom of the inning and knotted the score in the second before eventually taking the lead on a solo home run by Kinsley Heichelbech in the bottom of the fifth.

The Trojans bats broke through in the sixth after an error with a pair of outs allowed Delaynee McCreary to cross the plate and place runners on first and second for Kitchen. The sophomore lefty laced a double to left center to score a pair of runs and get the lead back.

McCreary added an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI double allowing Sinders to score her second run of the ballgame.

Sinders settled in after a tough opening to the game inside the circle and earned the complete game victory, with four strikeouts and just a pair of earned runs allowed.

The squads traded zeros in the first inning before Taylor took the first lead of the game with a run in the second. Browning doubled to begin the frame and scored on an error for a 1-0 advantage.

The Trojans added to the lead in the next inning as Standridge laced a leadoff ground rule double. Sinders singled home Standridge and reached third after a single by Mullins forced the Mighty Oaks to switch pitchers. The move appeared to work with a pair of strikeouts, but Everman continued her terrific day with a two-RBI two-out double.

Oakland City scored a run in the third before TU added to the lead in the fifth with an RBI single by Kitchen. Everman provided another insurance run in the top of the seventh doubling home Browning.

Claire Cullen exited in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and the lead standing at 6-2. Katie Kottlowski relived the sophomore and after a wild pitch struck out the final two batters for her first save of the season and eighth of her career, which ties her for second in program history.

Cullen earned the victory with 6.1 innings inside the circle, striking out three and allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks.

Taylor (3-3) plays another doubleheader on the road against Brescia (1-3) on Saturday, February 21st, with first pitch in the opener scheduled for 2:00 pm.