GOSHEN, Ind. - The top highlight of the 2023 Goshen baseball season came on the very last swing of the bat.

Preston Anderson hit a walkoff single to score senior Nate Lange as the Maple Leafs topped #21 Taylor 9-8 on Senior Day. The Trojans fell to 30-6 in conference play with the loss but won game one 8-4. Before the games, Goshen recognized the three seniors that will be leaving the team - Gabe Kermode, Char Reeves and Nate Lange.

The Leafs took the win right before the afternoon storm came in - the start of game one was moved up to 10:00 am to avoid it. Goshen started the bottom of the seventh with a strikeout and a lineout. But Nate Lange hit a two-out single up the middle to keep the hopes alive. Next, Jenner Rodammer singled through the left side of the infield to move Lange to second. Then Preston Anderson hit the third straight Goshen single - a shot sent between the first and second basemen to score Lange and win the game 9-8.

The Trojans had scored the first two runs of the game, but the Leafs came back with three in the second inning and another four in the third. Peyton Smith hit two RBI singles, Nate Lane had a two-RBI double, Joshua Rubio walked in a run, Justin Dambruck scored on a wild pitch and Nate Lange added an RBI single. By the end of the third, Goshen led 7-3.

Taylor had a four-run sixth inning, and the teams were tied at eight going into the final inning. Lange had another RBI single in the fifth. Dalton Soergel got three quick outs in the top of the seventh, two from swinging strikeouts. Then Preston Anderson came through in the ninth. This was Soergel's first win of the season. He pitched the final five innings and struck out five.

Nate Lange's final game as a Maple Leaf was a big one. He went 4-5 with four RBIs, a run and a stolen base. Trent Sillett and Joseph Cerda had three hits each and Peyton Smith had two more. Goshen had 15 hits in the game, their fifth-highest total this season.

Taylor used a four-run fourth inning in game one to win 8-4. Preston Anderson had the loss, allowing six earned runs in six innings. Josh Murphy threw the next three and allowed just one run on two hits. They combined to throw eight strikeouts and gave up just three walks. Jenner Rodammer had three hits in the game and Sillett had two.

Goshen finished the season 10-38 with a 6-30 conference record. Taylor had just secured the outright regular-season Crossroads League championship on Thursday.

Before the action, seniors Gabe Kermode, Char Reeves and Nate Lange were recognized for their contributions to the Maple Leafs. Here is what was said about them:

Fans, today we are recognizing the Goshen College baseball class of 2023. Our seniors will leave Goshen having advanced in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. They have made the people and places around them better, and we are privileged to have had them for the time we did. We wish them the best at commencement tomorrow and for their lives ahead. The players will be joined by head coach Alex Childers at home plate.

First to be recognized is #13, Gabe Kermode! Gabe is from Boulder City, Nevada, and is being escorted by his parents, Jodi and Al Kermode. Gabe is a broadcasting major and a marketing minor and plans to coach baseball after college. In 82 games played, Gabe totaled 16 hits and 15 runs with a .969 fielding percentage. Thank you, Gabe!

Next up is #31, Char Reeves! Char is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is being escorted by his teammates Dalton Soergel and Joseph Cerda. Char is a business major and intends to work with his uncle in New York after college. Char has played in 118 games as a Maple Leaf. He has scored 54 runs and stolen 15 bases. He has 44 hits and a .340 on-base percentage. Thank you, Char!

Last but not least is #32, Nate Lange! Nate is from Ludington, Michigan, and is being escorted by his parents Kristin and Jason Lange. He is a biology major with a psychology minor. He would like to move back to his home state of Michigan and start working there after college. In 143 games at Goshen, Nate has displayed a batting average of .263 with a .361 on-base percentage. He has scored 68 runs and has 61 RBIs with 123 hits, 21 doubles, three triples and a home run. Thank you, Nate!

Ladies and gentlemen, please help me give a round of applause to your 2023 baseball seniors!