Timely Hitting Eludes Trojans in Elimination Defeat to MVNU

Timely Hitting Eludes Trojans in Elimination Defeat to MVNU

 

MARION, Ind. – Taylor saw its time in the 2021 Crossroads League Tournament come to a close on Tuesday afternoon after going two-for-12 with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 walkoff loss to Mount Vernon Nazarene.

 

The two sides combined for only five runs on 13 hits, with neither club collecting an extra-base hit in the affair.

 

Only three Trojans hit safely in the game, with Joe Moran going four-for-five at the plate, Brett Lawson adding two hits and TJ Bass staying hot with one single. Moran knocked in each of TU’s runs, with Jonathan Foster scoring both runs.

 

TU had plenty of opportunities to put runs on the board, advancing at least one runner into scoring position in seven different innings, but ended the game with 13 runners left on base.

 

The lone scoring for Taylor came in the fifth and ninth innings off RBI singles from Moran, as the senior plated Foster in the fifth to cut MVNU’s (31-18) lead in half. Moran again singled home Foster in the top of the ninth to knot the score at 2-2.

 

Taylor could not force extra innings however, as a walk and stolen base in the bottom half set the stage for a two-out, walkoff single to right that lifted the Cougars to a 3-2 win.

 

Moran and Mitch Ubelhor pitched well for the Trojans, combining to allow three earned runs on six hits over 8.2 innings. The duo also picked up eight strikeouts.

 

Taylor closes its regular season at 37-20 overall, marking the program’s third-straight full season with at least 37 wins, its 12th-straight full season with at least 32 wins and its 14th-straight season with a winning record.

 

The Trojans will now wait until Thursday, May 13 at 5:00 pm ET to learn if they will receive an at-large bid into the NAIA National Tournament.