Trojans Fall in Pitching Duel to Open Crossroads League Tournament 

Crossroads League Championships Central

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Taylor (25-24) dropped a pitcher's duel in heartbreaking fashion against Spring Arbor, with the tying run thrown out at home for the final out in the Crossroads League Tournament opener, hosted by Saint Francis, on Wednesday.

The pitcher's duel saw both teams struggle for any offense through the first four innings as the teams combined for two hits and walk as Claire Cullen and Alexyn DuBois went back-and-forth inside the circle.

Cullen threw a complete game, allowing one unearned run and striking out nine to push her season total to 109, the eighth-most in a single-season in program history. The righty also now ranks in top ten in program history with 182 and her .228 batting average against this season is top five for a single-season in program history.

The Noblesville, Indiana native was strong to begin the day, retiring 13-straight batters after a walk to open the contest, including six punchouts. The sophomore had some trouble in the fifth, as three batters reached to load the bases with one out. Cullen dialed in and fanned the next two batters to keep the game scoreless.

Spring Arbor (31-21) loaded the bases again in the sixth, and Emilee Underwood delivered a single down the left field line to plate the game's first run. Terrific heads-up defense by Delaynee McCreary in left field saw a runner thrown out at third before a second run could score.

Taylor responded by getting two on with one out in the bottom of the sixth after Jayci Kitchen and Bella Browning both singled. Kaylee Larkin sent a shot down the right-field line, but a diving catch prevented the Trojans from getting on the board. A grounder to the pitcher with runners on the corners ended the threat for TU.

Delaney Barton gave the Trojans a chance with a double in the bottom of the seventh to get the tying run into scoring position. Lizzy Sinders roped a single to left and pinch runner Madyn Mohr rounded third hard but was thrown out at home to end the game and send TU into the loser's bracket.

Taylor plays next in the Crossroads League Tournament on Thursday, April 30th, at noon against one of No. 22 Marian (31-14), Huntington (27-22) or RV Saint Francis (33-11) depending on the rest of Wednesday's results.