No. 3 Trojans Sweep Foresters in Top-25 Clash

In Game 1, the Trojans reached double digits in runs for the 11th time this season behind a balanced offensive attack. Brayden Manning finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs, logging his fifth game this season with three or more hits. Jordan Malott went 1 for 4 with four RBIs and a double, Nate Simpson drove in three runs on two hits including a home run, and Brennan Frickel went 2 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs. Sam Gladd added two RBIs on a double and a bases-loaded walk, while Luke Sutter reached base three times with two hits and a walk.

TU scored first with a two-out rally in the opening frame. Manning singled to left center and Malott worked a full-count walk before Simpson lined an RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead.

Starter Brody Fine kept Huntington off the board early, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second inning by striking out the final batter after back-to-back punchouts and a walk loaded the bases. Fine racked up six strikeouts through 3.2 innings of work, while allowing just two hits.

The Trojans added to the lead in the third when Sutter doubled to center and Manning singled him home through the middle. TU's offense stayed hot in the fourth as Simpson drew a leadoff walk, Gladd drove him in with an RBI double to right, and Frickel followed with a solo homer to left on a 2-1 count to make it 4-0. Manning, Malott and Simpson combined to go 6 for 7 at the plate through the first five innings.

Taylor broke it open in the fifth as Manning doubled to left center, and Malott ripped a two-run double down the left field line. Simpson then launched a two-run homer to right, his third of the season, to push the lead to 8-0 and chase Huntington starter RJ Anglin. The Foresters answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Jace Fowler, a sacrifice fly by Cam Clarkson, and back-to-back solo homers from Zach Pelletier and Owen Willard to cut it to 8-4.

Taylor responded with four runs in the sixth to restore the cushion at 12-4. Quinn Kunkel opened with a pinch-hit double, and after walks to Fletcher Roemmich and Sutter, Manning lifted a sacrifice fly. Malott reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed two runs to score, and Gladd drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the frame.

Nathan Frady earned the win in 3.2 innings of relief, improving to 2-1 on the year. Huntington made it closer with four runs in the ninth on a two-run homer by Clarkson and solo shots by Willard and Tanner Reinartz, but TU freshman reliever Luke Klunke recorded the final out to secure the victory.

Then, the nightcap turned into a pitcher's duel between Huntington freshman lefty Max Engle and Taylor senior right-hander Wes Hunt. Engle entered the game with a 3-0 record, while Hunt delivered one of his best outings of the season with a career-high seven strikeouts over four innings.

Huntington took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Deklan Thompson doubled down the right field line and Jace Fowler singled him home. Hunt issued a walk to Keifer Wilson to load the bases but settled in to strand a pair with a strikeout and a flyout, then allowed just one hit over his final three frames while piling up seven punchouts.

TU threatened in the second when Ben Kennedy doubled to right center and Malott singled to put runners at the corners with two outs, but the Trojans left both stranded. Sutter tripled to right center with two outs in the third but was left stranded, too. Engle kept the Trojans off the board through the first three innings, working around traffic with poise.

Malott broke through in the fourth with a leadoff home run to center field to tie the game at 1-1. Huntington put runners in scoring position in the bottom of the frame when Owen Imel doubled down the left field line to move Tanner Reinartz to third, but Manning fired a relay from left field to Roemmich to Kaden Wu at the plate to cut down the go-ahead run and preserve the tie. 

Gage Gongwer entered in relief to start the fifth and stranded Forester baserunners in each of his three innings of work, finishing with two strikeouts. Malott doubled again with one out in the sixth and advanced to third on a groundout, but Engle escaped the jam to keep it knotted at one.

The seventh inning proved decisive when Kunkel delivered a pinch-hit single to right, and Roemmich drew a walk to put two aboard with two outs. Sutter then drove a clutch three-run homer to right field to break the game open at 4-1. Sutter has five long balls and reached base safely in every game this season.

Huntington scored one in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Keifer Wilson and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but Gongwer got Pelletier to fly out to right to end the game and secure the sweep.

Taylor and Huntington are scheduled to meet for another twinbill at noon Saturday at Forest Glen Park.