David Scores No. 11 Taylor's All-Time Runs Record in Sweep Over IWU

MARION, Ind. – A leadoff home run from Mason David on Saturday afternoon gave the senior Taylor's career runs record as the No. 11 Trojans (37-8, 28-4 CL) went on to win both games of the doubleheader, 8-5 and 7-3, over Indiana Wesleyan (23-17, 18-14).

The second of the victories came in comeback fashion, as TU entered the seventh inning of the finale trailing, 3-2. With the top of the Trojan lineup due up, the Purple and Grey filled the bases, eventually leading to a go-ahead sacrifice fly from Luke Sutter and a dagger three-run homer from Luke Picchiotti.

11th-ranked Taylor's series sweep marked its fifth of the Crossroads League season, and it positions head coach Kyle Gould's squad to break the program record for single-season conference wins with a series victory versus Marian on April 24-25.

Game one Saturday had a déjà vu-like start from Thursday's opener with David's homer that made him the program's all-time leader at 219 runs scored. Similar to what happened Thursday at IWU, Brayden Manning also homered in the first frame, this time to give TU a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats would tie the game at 3-3 in the second inning, a score that held heading into the fourth frame.

Walks drawn by Ben Kennedy and Sutter, as well as a single from David helped Taylor retake the lead in the fourth inning, 5-3. Manning, in the midst of a third consecutive 3-for-4 game with three RBIs, pushed the advantage to 6-3 with a two-out single in the sixth that scored Kaleb Kolpien.

Taylor tacked on with RBIs from Fletcher Roemmich and Sutter in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, to put the game away.

On the mound, TU was forced to adjust its plan to get the game three victory.

Jake Boyer (5-1) earned the win for going two scoreless frames in the middle of the contest. Gage Gongwer worked the next three innings without allowing an earned run while striking out four Wildcats, and Dalton Swinehart collected his fourth save of the season with a clean, two-strikeout ninth inning.

In the series finale, Alec Hershberger got the nod and gave the Trojans a lift. The sophomore southpaw tossed four-plus innings, allowing just two runs while racking up four strikeouts in the no-decision.

Both lineups were held in check through most of the nightcap, with TU climbing back from an early 1-0 hole with a strong start to the second inning. Manning walked, Sutter doubled and Picchiotti notched an RBI single to begin that frame, tying the game at 1-1.

Manning came through with another two-out, RBI single in the third frame, but IWU responded to grab a 3-2 edge in the fifth inning.

The Trojans' big bats came through in the seventh to extend their winning streak to six games, however, capped by Picchiotti's three-run shot that snuck in fair over the right field foul pole.

Lane Lewis (1-0) proved pivotal in the victory, limiting damage in the fifth frame and pitching scoreless sixth and seventh innings to give his Taylor lineup a chance to win it. The freshman right-hander closed the game with three innings pitched, five strikeouts and two hits and one run against.

David led the offense with three hits in the finale, and he scored five times across the doubleheader to set the current all-time mark at 223 runs.

No. 11 Taylor begins its final Crossroads League series of 2025 at Winterholter Field on Thursday, April 24, when it hosts Marian (23-22, 18-14) for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.