Casey Allen | The Echo
The Taylor softball team returned from Tennessee this past weekend, splitting a pair of double-headers, picking up two victories against Cumberland University and dropping two games to Martin Methodist.
The Trojans rolled over Cumberland with final scores of 6-3 and 6-1. Senior Ashley Miller and junior Hannah Robbins led the bats for the Trojans, both with two hits. Miller also controlled the mound for the entire outing, pitching a complete game.
Robbins shared her belief that winning games is triggered like a domino effect. Once it starts, they rarely encounter anyone who can stop it.
"Once you start winning, it becomes contagious," Robbins said. "It's a lot of fun. You play looser and more relaxed."
In the second game, juniors Lauren Ehle and Alex Lovelace headed the offensive attack with two hits apiece, while junior Hannah Robbins pitched a complete game holding the Phoenix to one run on only four hits. Robbins' performance earned her the honor of Crossroads League Pitcher-of-the-Week.
The Trojans were faced with a much tougher opponent the next day in the Martin Methodist Redhawks at a record of 10-3, compared to the Phoenix's record of 1-6. The first game ended in a score of 4-0 in favor of the Redhawks with the Trojans only recording two hits, coming from junior Morgan Allison and Miller. The second contest was much closer and went deep into extra innings, resulting in the Trojans being defeated by a score of 8-7. The Trojans took the lead in the ninth off singles by freshmen Andi Stewart and Olivia Hostetler to score sophomore Davis Carter, but saw the game end on a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth.
Despite the loss, the Trojans saw plenty of offense, punctuated by an outing by Ehle with three hits, including a homerun.
"It is never fun losing in that fashion, but we played and battled our butts off," Ehle said. "I am just excited to continue playing softball with 19 of my favorite people. I think we are going to do great things."
Finishing the weekend with a .500 record, head coach Brad Bowser is proud of the way his team competed and is confident in his players for the rest of the season.
"I am excited about this team, their make-up and how they compete," Bowser said. "I like the way we play the game. We have a group of really tough-minded players."
The Trojans are set to host their first home game on March 11 when they will take on Lourdes University at 4 p.m. and again at 6 p.m.
"photograph provided by TU Sports Information Department"
