Moran Clubs Three Homers as Trojans Push Home Win Streak to 20

Moran Clubs Three Homers as Trojans Push Home Win Streak to 20

 

UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor finished off a four-game sweep of Spring Arbor with two more wins on Saturday against the visiting Cougars, riding a hot bat from Joe Moran to 10-6 and 9-4 victories.

 

Moran homered three times on the afternoon, including a pair of three-run shots in the opener and a solo blast in the finale to help Taylor improve to 20-0 on its home turf this season. The Anderson University transfer collected six hits on the day and drove in seven runs.

 

Moran’s first round tripper of the day capped a five-run rally for the Trojans in the third inning of the first day of the game. The senior provided a repeat performance in his next at bat, pushing the TU margin to 8-1 in the bottom of the fourth.

 

Moran finished the game 3-5 at the plate with the two homers and six RBI, while Nick Rusche reached safely four times from his leadoff spot and scored three runs in the win. TJ Bass, Brett Lawson and Ben Kalbaugh each collected two hits, with Lawson doubling twice to help the Trojans pound out six extra-base hits among 13 total knocks.

 

Luke Shively was solid on the bump for the Purple and Gold over his seven innings of work, earning the win to improve to 5-1. Shively allowed three runs on four hits and picked up seven whiffs.

 

Taylor used another early five-run outburst to take control in the series finale, opening the bottom of the second with two walks and an error, before Jonathan Foster, Rusche and Bass provided run-scoring hits to break open a 5-0 cushion.

 

The lead continued to grow, as Foster delivered RBI singles in his next two trips to the plate and Moran cleared the fences for a third time on the day and 12th of the season.

Foster and Moran combined for six hits, six RBI and four runs scored in the 9-4 win and Camden Knepp added two hits and three runs.

 

Luke Carlson and Drake Gongwer combined to limit SAU (18-22, 12-16 CL) to one earned run over seven innings, with Carlos notching the win to improve to 4-2 and Gongwer registering his second save.

 

No. 21 Taylor (33-12, 22-6 CL) is set to return to action on Friday, April 30 with a 3:00 pm doubleheader against Saint Francis (28-16, 18-10 CL) at Winterholter Field.