Taylor softball took the victory over Crossroads League competitor, Grace, on April 17. They finished 22-2, going 14-2 in the first game and 8-0 in the nightcap.
Sophomore pitcher Claire Cullen notched seven strikeouts across five innings to start the series. No allowances came from pitcher Lizzy Sinders, as she blanked the Lancer offense for 4.2 innings in game two, marking nine wins for her freshman campaign.
Taylor’s offense matched the defense’s stride for game one. Leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, they produced five runs in the second, two in the third and seven in the fourth.
Sophomore outfielder Jaycie Kitchen and sophomore shortstop Bella Browning, along with senior third baseman Madisyn Standridge started the batting order by producing two hits and two runs each. Senior pitcher and first baseman Kaylee Larkin launched her ninth home run of the season.
“A home run, in my opinion, is just lucky,” Larkin said. “Everything has to come together at once. You can’t overthink it and try to muscle it.”
It is never about the home run to Larkin, but rather about getting a hit to assist the team. She said while a home run may be great, a base hit can be even better.
Larkin currently sits at 39 career home runs after playing Saint Francis on April 23, locking in second place in program history. She also holds the record for career walks at 93.
Standridge and senior outfielder Delaynee McCreary both credited 3 RBIs for game two. Freshman pitcher and outfielder Ava Everman was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 and scoring two runs. Sitting at six runs, they scored two in the fifth to attain run-rule and a concrete victory.
Taylor’s initial game against Grace resulted in a split performance at home, with Taylor run-ruling Grace 12-2 in the first game before falling 13-9 in the second.
Larkin and Standridge emphasized the importance of the win, in contrast to their previous matchup with Grace on March 21.
“At this point in the season, peaking in the right time is really important,” Standridge said. “You don’t want to be playing your best softball at the beginning of the season, but you also don’t want to be playing your best softball at the middle.”
Larkin said it can be easy to get in a groove with multiple games per week, but the victory at Grace was much-needed, reminding the team not to fear perfection.
Not only was the matchup important to the players, but it also held a different weight for head coach Grace Glidewell.
“Coach Grace actually has really close connections with Grace College,” Standridge said. “Her parents actually coached there for a number of years. So, these are huge games for her, which, as a player, fuels a fire in me personally.”
Standridge’s fire also plays into her mindset as a senior, as she is reminded of the blessing it is to play with gratitude alongside the other seniors. All of the seven seniors developed a close bond throughout the four years they have spent with the program.
Their bond is special because they navigated change together, experiencing four different coaches throughout their recruiting and playing time Standridge said.
Larkin said Glidewell emphasizes finishing strong without giving up until the last out of each game. The Trojans look to follow this advice into the postseason, as they hold a fourth seed in the CL tournament to avoid a play-in game.
Taylor holds a 25-23 overall season record, with a 20-16 CL record.
