(MONTREAT, N.C. ) – The Truett McConnell University baseball team split an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader with Montreat College on Saturday. The Bears took game one with a score of 4-1 after 14 innings of play but dropped game two after the Cavaliers gained speed (1-3). TMU’s season record moves to 18-8 (8-5 AAC) while Montreat’s record now stands at 15-14 (8-6 AAC).
GAME 1 | 4-1
It was a pitching duel as both starters went 10 innings. TMU’s Tyler Gray gave up only one run off five hits while striking out five batters in the process. His stellar outing kept the game close as the first run of the game didn’t come until the fifth inning when Matthew Redmond doubled down the right field line and was eventually brought home when Caleb Williams laced an RBI single to right field. The Cavaliers tied the game up 1-1 in the eighth inning, while the game was forced into extra innings. It wasn’t until the top of the 14th inning that the tie was broken again. Ethan Roberts led off the inning with a single, Andrew Johnston reached in the next at-bat on a dropped fly ball and Mikal Mascarello gave the Bears the lead with an RBI single, scoring Roberts. Two more runs would be added on as a cushion for TMU, making the final score 4-1.
LEADERS
Redmond and Williams both went 2-5 with one RBI. Pitcher Tyler Gray went the distance of 10 innings with five strikeouts. Jonathan Joiner came in relief and got the win after pitching four complete innings, surrendering only one hit and no runs with three strikeouts.
GAME 2 | 1-3
Despite dishing out 11 hits against the Cavaliers, the Bears were limited to just one run. After two scoreless innings to start the game, Montreat went up by three runs in the bottom of the third inning. TMU responded with their first and only run in the top of the fourth when Jacob Karvelas singled down the right-field line to score Williams who was sitting at third after his triple. The Bears would get multiple hits in the final three innings, but couldn’t complete the comeback, losing by a final score of 1-3.
LEADERS
Mascarello went 3-3 with his three singles, while Williams had the only run for the Bears after he went 2-3 at the plate.
Pitcher Caleb Johnson pitched five innings, giving up three runs off four hits and striking out two batters.
UP NEXT
TMU will make up their Friday game on Monday, March 20 against Montreat. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Newell Field.
