4/28/19
WALESKA, Ga. (April 27, 2019) – The No. 18 Truett McConnell University baseball team split Saturday’s doubleheader at Reinhardt University to drop the final three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season series (13-12, 8-5). The Bears moved to 28-17, 18-9 AAC on the year to finish third in the AAC rankings by just one game behind No. 23 Bryan College (35-13, 19-8 AAC).
GAME ONE (13-12)
The Bears started off hot in the bottom of the first to swing for five hits which scored four runs (4-0). After senior Austin Bishop led off with a single to first, junior Josh Johnston reach base on a bunt base hit. Senior Patrick Overstreet drove them both home on a single through the hole at shortstop to immediately put TMU out front. Sophomore Mason Gaines, however, gave the Bears the four-run cushion with a single to center field.
The Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the first and four more in the bottom of the third to steal the lead (4-7). Johnston went on to put TMU behind by one in the top of the fourth with a two-run homerun over the right field fence on a 3-2 count (6-7). Reinhardt responded with a three-run homerun in the bottom half (6-10) but John Michael McRae scored two more Bears at the top of the sixth with a single to right field (8-10). A triple down the right field line scored two more for the Eagles (8-12) but that would be the last time.
TMU loaded up the bases at the top of the seventh, which scored pinch runner Shane Smith on a walk (9-12). But the Bears rose to the occasion in the top of the ninth. After a leadoff double to left by Evan Bensch, Bishop singled to right center. However, it was Johnston who tied the game back up with his second homerun of the day to score three (12-12). After a Reinhardt pitching change, McRae followed sending a solo shot over the left field fence on the first pitch to clinch the win (13-12).
Sophomore Craig Barton earned the win after throwing 5.0 innings allowing six hits, five runs and striking out three. Senior Gregory Elder Jr. saved the game in the bottom of the ninth after striking out two and forcing a ground out.
LEADERS
Johnston led the way with six RBI’s (4-for-5) with four runs scored, one double and two HR’s. Bishop was perfect (4-for-4) with three runs scored and McRae went 4-for-6 with three RBI’s, two runs scored and a HR. Gaines and Overstreet added two RBI’s apiece and Bensch went 2-for-3.
GAME TWO (8-5)
After two scoreless innings, both teams recorded four hits and three runs in the third (3-3). TMU’s runs came on a Bishop double down the left field line, a Johnston single to center and another double by McRae. Another Johnston single to center scored Smith at the top of the fifth to put the Bears out front (4-3) but Reinhardt responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half (4-5). Freshman Connor Bearden tied it back up in the top of the sixth with an RBI single down the right field line (5-5). But it proved not enough as the Eagles pushed for three more runs in the bottom of the sixth (5-8) and the Bears were held hitless and scoreless in the top of the seventh.
Bensch was handed the loss after throwing the first 4.0 inning allowing five hits, three runs while striking out one. Barton and Elder both relieved Bensch for an inning apiece.
LEADERS
Bearden went 2-for-3 with an RBI and 2B while Bishop and Johnston went 2-for-4 with a run scored each. Bishop added a 2B and RBI while Johnston added two RBI’s.
UP NEXT
With the regular season over, the Bears are set to compete in the AAC tournament which will take place in Kingsport, Tenn., May 1 – May 4.
