Manning Delivers Dramatic Walk-Off Single, No. 1 TU Advances Past No. 23 Marian
May 1, 2026

Manning Delivers Dramatic Walk-Off Single, No. 1 TU Advances Past No. 23 Marian

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Crossroads League Championships Central

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Brayden Manning delivered a walk-off single to advance No. 1 Taylor past No. 23 Marian in dramatic fashion by a final score of 3-2 in Friday's Crossroads League Tournament battle at Burbridge Field. The Trojans (47-4) will play second-seeded No. 22 Huntington at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
With the victory, TU broke the 2025 program record for most runs scored in a season, now with 564 through 49 games, and tied last year's squad for most wins (47) in a campaign.
 
Down to its final out on Friday, TU plated two runs after Marian (35-16) broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the ninth. The Trojans have developed flair for the dramatic in recent CL Tournament history, posting their third walk-off victory over its previous eight tourney contests including the Day 2 victory last season over Mount Vernon Nazarene and the 2025 title game against IWU.
 
The victory also extended TU's streak in the series against Marian to four wins in five meetings since last week — every one of them decided by three runs or fewer, including a 12-inning marathon earlier in the stretch. The Knights have been the Trojans' most persistent test all season, and Friday was no different.
 
Much of the credit belongs to Nathan Frady, who once again rendered Marian's lineup nearly helpless in a relief outing that matched the quality of his work against the Knights seven days prior, which earned him CL Pitcher of the Week honors. Entering the game in the fifth inning, the right-hander worked 4.1 frames of two-hit ball, extending his remarkable streak to six consecutive mound appearances without surrendering an earned run across 22.1 combined innings.
 
For five innings, neither team could sustain any offense. TU stranded a runner in each of its first six half-innings, including two apiece in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames, as Marian starter Evan Cooke was also sharp through six innings of work.
 
The Knights drew first blood in the fourth. River Pecina worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt. Zach Bale then punched the Knights' first hit of the day through the middle for a run-scoring single, giving Marian a 1-0 advantage.
 
TU answered in the fifth. With two outs and the pitcher's duel teetering toward a Marian victory, Luke Sutter — who was a thorn in Cooke's side all afternoon — singled and Manning coaxed a walk to put runners on the corners. Jordan Malott worked the count full before lining an RBI single to left field, plating Sutter and knotting the game at one.
 
Neither team managed a hit in the sixth, seventh or eighth innings, amplifying the pressure bearing down on both bullpens.
 
Marian threatened to close it first. Pecina reached on a throwing error to lead off the ninth, and Corona dropped a bunt single toward third that found a resting spot on the line. With two runners aboard and nobody out, Marian executed a sacrifice bunt to move both into scoring position. After an infield RBI single, TU reliever Nick Crabtree responded and struck out Aiden Kerr swinging and got Ty Jarvis looking at strike three — stranding two in scoring position and sending the game to the bottom half.
 
The ninth began quietly for the Trojans as Rylee Singleton drew a seven-pitch walk to put the tying run on base. With Jace Schrock pinch-running, Marian reliever Kaeb Stebbins was called for a balk and Schrock advanced to second. Then, Sutter reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and Schrock came around to score the tying run and breathed new life into the Trojans. Sutter immediately stole second to put the winning run in scoring position. Manning stepped in and drilled a single up the middle off a 1-2 pitch. Sutter scored as the Trojans poured out of the dugout.
 
It was Manning's 80th hit of the season — a new personal best and a mark that ties him for eighth on TU's single-season all-time list — accomplished in 10 fewer games than his previous standard. The senior also stretched his hit streak to 10 consecutive games and pushed his career CL Tournament batting average to .390.
 
Offensively, Sutter went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and extended his on-base streak to 24 consecutive games, while Manning finished 3-for-5 with his 16th double. Ben Kennedy added two hits.
 
On the mound, Frady's 4.1-inning effort formed the backbone of the staff's quality performance. Starter Wes Hunt was strong through four frames, allowing one hit and striking out six. Crabtree picked up his first win of the season in his 14th appearance.
 
The top-seeded Trojans can clinch a spot in Monday's championship game with a win on Saturday. With a loss, TU would turn right around to play again at 6 p.m. in its first elimination game.