(CLEVELAND) – The Truett McConnell University baseball team opened their 2022 season on Tuesday, where the Bears took down the Eagles in a non-conference matchup with a final score of 7-4, inside the TMU Baseball Complex.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The first and second inning saw Toccoa with an early lead, forcing the Bears to work from behind (0-3). The Eagles added another run to the board in the top of the third, but TMU showed their grit in the bottom of the third by reducing the lead to one after a ball from Brady Wilson offered the perfect opportunity to score Tanner Griffith from third and Andrew Johnston from second (2-4). Kodi Bishop followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, capable of scoring Mikal Mascarello to make the score 3-4.
The fourth inning saw both teams even in play, while the bottom of the fifth saw an RBI double from Matthew Redmond to score Johnston, followed by a single up the middle from Will Ingram to score Redmond and Wilson. Pitcher Cade Kiniry kept the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the game, while the final run was scored in the bottom of the eighth from a Mascarello RBI (7-4).
LEADERS
Johnston led the way going 3-5 at the plate with two runs, while Redmond made his debut as a Bear going 2-3 at the plate, along with a single run and a single RBI. Wilson and Ingram individually went 1-4 and had two RBIs, followed by Griffith who went 1-4 with a single run. Kiniry earned the win after recording six strikeouts, zero hits, zero runs and one walk.
UP NEXT
The Bears are back in action on Friday, Feb. 4, where they will face Olivet Nazarine University in a double header, set to begin at 2:00p.m. Weather permitting.
