3/11/20
(BLUEFIELD, Va.) – After clenching the series win with a doubleheader sweep on Sunday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team dropped game three (10-9) on a walk off single on Monday afternoon at Bluefield College. The Bears fell to 11-11, 4-2 AAC on the season, while the Rams improved to 7-11, 1-5 AAC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
TMU got up on the scoreboard first in the top of the second when sophomore Connor Bearden ran home on a fielder’s choice (1-0). However, the Rams recorded four runs off of three hits in the bottom of the third (1-4). The Bears did add two more runs of their own in the sixth off a pair of doubles by Brian Meyer (2-4) and Mason Gaines (3-4). In fact, TMU got back out front on another double by Josh Johnston (4-4) and a Meyer single (5-4) in the seventh, but the Rams picked up the pace in the bottom half of the seventh. Bluefield connected for four hits and recorded five runs to get out front by four (5-9).
Despite a scoreless eighth inning on both sides, senior Evan Bensch’s single to short sparked the comeback inning for the Bears. Bensch and fellow senior Calob Rowland ran home on another Meyer single (7-9), but it was Grant McDonel’s single to center that scored Johnston and Meyer to tie it up in the ninth (9-9). In the end, however, the Rams walked it off in the bottom of the ninth on a RBI single to left (9-10).
LEADERS
Overall, the Bears outhit the Rams 16-13 and were led by Meyer who went 3-for-4 with four RBI’s and two runs. Fellow freshman Tanner Griffith also recorded three hits, while Johnston and McDonel added two hits apiece. Johnston, Meyer, Bearden, Gaines and Andrew Johnston were all responsible for the Bears’ five doubles.
Freshman Hagan Jenkins made the start for TMU, while fellow freshman Andrew Fry relieved for 4.1 innings recording seven strikeouts. Bensch was handed the loss after closing the final inning.
UP NEXT
The Bears have a quick turnaround as they host Southern Wesleyan University for a midweek nonconference matchup on Wednesday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m.
