UPLAND, IN. – The Cougars were on the cusp of beating nationally ranked Taylor in both games yesterday, but both games ended in Taylor's favor, as the hosts defeated the Cougars with consecutive walk-off winners.
In game one, the Cougars started hot and pounced on the Trojans by mounting a 10-3 lead by the seventh inning.
The Trojans seemingly saved their best baseball for last, as they scored eight unanswered runs, capped off by a walk-off single up the middle to take game one from the visiting Cougars, 11-10.
In game two, Spring Arbor again opened up with an early lead, as
Evan Lorey went yard with a two-run shot in the first inning.
From there, back-and-forth action ensued as the game was five lead changes with no team leading by more than one run after the first inning.
After the Cougars knotted the game at five following a sacrifice fly by Lorey, the Trojans again utilized late game heroics to down Spring Arbor. A two-out walk off single allowed the Trojans to again prevail, this time by a score of 6-5.
THE BASICS
SCORES: Spring Arbor 10, Taylor 11
Spring Arbor 5, Taylor 6
LOCATION: Upland, In.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 5-6 (0-6 CL) , Taylor 13-7 (6-0 CL)
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior
Sean Cassel led the Cougars on the mound to start the game, allowing five hits and striking out seven batters in 4.1 innings of action. He left the mound having guided the Cougars to a 7-0 advantage.
- Junior
Landon Raczkowski blasted his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field to increase the Cougar lead to 4-0. He had 3 RBIs on the day.
- Freshman
Aiden Brunin had two hits and two RBIs in game one, and senior Bryce Ritchey had four hits and three RBIs.
- A big part of Taylor's comeback was in part to three-run home runs in consecutive innings, doing so in the seventh and eighth innings of play.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
- The first inning home run from
Evan Lorey was his second of the year, tied for most on the team. He ended with 3 RBIs on the afternoon.
- Junior
Jake Spedoske went 2-for-3 with a run on the afternoon, while senior Bryce Ritchey went 2-for-4, and
Ben Redfield went 2-for-3.
- The Cougars scored their five runs on just seven hits, a testament to their offensive prowess despite the loss.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor travels back to Upland, IN on Saturday to face the Trojans, with the first game starting at 1:00.
