5/6/19
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (May 4, 2019) – The No. 6-seeded Union College Bulldogs rallied in the eighth inning with six runs to put the game out of reach for the No. 3-seeded Truett McConnell University in the semi-finals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference baseball tournament on Saturday (8-4). The loss eliminated the Bears from the tournament and sent the Bulldogs straight to the championship round which punches their ticket to nationals.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Right off the bat junior Josh Johnston doubled deep down the right field line and senior Patrick Overstreetdoubled to deep left to score the first run of the game at the top of the first (1-0). Junior Calob Rowland scored Overstreet with a single up the middle to immediately put TMU at a two-run advantage (2-0). Union scored a run in the fifth (2-1) and tied the game up in the sixth (2-2) but freshman John Michael McRae put TMU back out front with a single up the middle in the seventh (3-2). However, it was only up from there for the Bulldogs.
In the bottom of the eighth, Union’s Ty Holmstrom homered for a second time with two on base (3-5), which ultimately proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs fed off the momentum to score three more (3-8). The Bears scored another in the top of the ninth in response (4-8) but it wasn’t enough as TMU left three on base.
LEADERS
Bensch led the going 2-for-3 while Johnston, Overstreet and McRae all went 2-for-5 with an RBI apiece. McRae went 10-for-19 for the tournament while Overstreet went 9-for-20.
Sophomore Cason Brown made the start for the Bears throwing 6.0 innings allowing seven hits, two runs while striking out two. Nick Hammonds and Gregory Elder Jr. both relieved for an inning.
UP NEXT
The Bears will wait and see if they will receive an at-large bid for the NAIA National Championships. The selection show will take place Thursday, May 9, and the opening round is May 13-15.
