Indianapolis, IN — Just four days
after pitching his second career no-hitter and coming just one batter
away from tossing a perfect game, Goshen College junior pitcher Ben
Taylor was named the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week on Wednesday,
the first player in the Leafs’ 49-year old program to achieve
such an honor.
Taylor (5-1) pitched a perfect six full innings against Spring
Abror University on Saturday at the Goshen College Baseball Complex, with
his attempt at perfection flawed only by grazing the uniform of the Cougars’ lead-off
batter in the top of the seventh inning (click here for complete game
recap). The right-hander then was able to retire the game, helping his
team to a 3-0 win over the Mid-Central Conference North Division leaders
and securing his second collegiate no-hitter — his other came last
season in a 3-0 win over Bluffton University in the Eastern Mennonite
University Sarasota Spring Classic on Mar. 5, 2004.
“This is a tremendous honor for Ben and a nice reward for the
great effort he gave us this week,” said Jayson Best, Goshen head
coach. “We feel like we have an excellent chance to win every time
he takes the mound for us. He is very deserving of this honor,
and we are all very proud that he was recognized at the national level
for his
play.”
As a preface to being named the NAIA's National Pitcher of the
Week, Taylor was also named the MCC and NAIA Region VIII Pitcher
of the Week. It was the first time this season that a Goshen
pitcher achieved any of these awards. Senior rightfielder Erik
Hisner was named the MCC's Player of the Week on Mar. 23.
Taylor’s efforts on his award-winning week were not a blip on the
radar by any means, as he has been Goshen’s ace the entire year
on the mound, giving up just 33 hits in 45.1 innings pitched while only
giving up 11 runs on the season — eight of which were earned.
His 1.59 ERA is by far the lowest on the squad, and Taylor
has gone the distance
in each of the six games he has started. The Elkhart native
has also proven he is as reliable as it gets in relief, chalking
up a pair of saves in
two chances.
“This award and Ben’s success this season are a testament
to his diligent preparation in the off-season,” Best said. “Ben
was in the Fieldhouse every day whether we had practice or
not pushing himself
to be in the best possible shape for the coming season. I look
forward to even greater things for Ben and the team as this
season continues.”
Taylor has also been impressive at the plate, churning out
a .389 slugging percentage while driving home 14 RBI, fourth
most on the
squad. Perhaps no RBI was larger than his top of the seventh,
two-out double against Spring Arbor on Thursday of last week,
however, when Taylor’s
lined shot turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Goshen was
able to hang on to win that contest in the bottom of the seventh
inning, with none
other than Taylor finishing things off on the mound.
The Leafs now have the bonus of a few additional days rest,
as the squad’s game at Marian College — scheduled for Saturday
afternoon — has been postponed to Monday due to inclement weather.
Game time for the first of two in Indianapolis is set for 1
p.m.
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 Junior
Ben Taylor
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