Jeff Yoder | Echo
The Taylor softball team is just one win away from becoming the Crossroads League Champions after escaping No. 8 Marian on Wednesday and storming past No. 5 Mount Vernon Nazarene and No. 2 Bethel to reach the finals.
The Trojans-hosting this year's Crossroads League Tournament-needed a walk-off single from freshman Lauren Ehle to elude the Knights 5-4 in nine innings in the first round of the tourney Wednesday. Junior Hanna Klebesadel got the win in the first game as she pitched the final three innings, halting Marian's comeback attempt.
Later that night, the Trojans pulled away from Mount Vernon Nazarene and never looked back. TU scored multiple runs in the third and fourth innings behind the bats of Ehle and freshman Anna Gunderson. Each of the two hit home runs-Ehle's second of the day and 16th of the season-en route to a 9-0 victory.
Freshman pitcher Hannah Robbins improved her record to 18-3 on the season with the complete game shutout. The Trojans recorded 10 hits from eight different players in the game.
On Thursday, the Taylor show continued out on Gudakunst Field as the Trojans tallied four runs in the top of the first inning by a grand slam via freshman Morgan Allison. The four-run bomb brought in Gunderson, Robbins and senior Emily Tweedy.
After giving up one run in the second and clinging to a 4-1 lead most of the contest, Ehle blasted an insurance home run, her third of the tournament, as Taylor breezed to a 5-1 win. Klebesadel was awarded the win this time, pitching a complete game and giving up six hits and just one earned run.
With three wins in two days, TU advances to the final game of the tournament scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Gudakunst Field. The Trojans will take on No. 3 Huntington.
Photography by Josh Adams
