Baseball
Bears Baseball Team Comes Up Short in AAC Tournament
The Truett-McConnell College Baseball program entered its first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament as the #8 seed going up against #1 Tennessee Wesleyan College. Despite scoring two runs in the top half of the ninth inning, TWC was able to hold off the Bears' rally and seal a 5-4 victory. The Bears faced #4 Point University on Tuesday in an elimination game, where the Bears were unable to plate the tying run en route to a 7-6 loss.
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Versus Tennessee Wesleyan, the Bulldogs held a 6-3 lead entering the top of the ninth inning.
Tate Gaines pinch hit for the Bears and delivered a two-RBI single through the left side to put the Bears within a run. However, TWC's Logan Longwith recorded the final out to preserve the Bulldogs' 5-4 win.
Chris Stevens knocked in the Bears' other run when he drove in Trent Little in the top of the fourth inning.
Chris Carden,
Walker Caves, and
McClane Ramey all had hits in the game.
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On the mound,
Jared Oliver limited the Bulldogs to just four hits over eight innings while recording nine strikeouts. He would record the tough-luck loss after being locked in a pitching duel with Bulldog starter Jarrod Jameson. Jameson went eight innings and allowed just three hits and two runs to earn the victory.
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On Tuesday, the Bears faced Point University and made a near comeback after trailing 7-3 entering the final frame. The Bears plated three runs before Point's right fielder threw out the Bears' runner at home plate to end the game.
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Earlier in the game, the Bears found themselves down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but bounced back with a three-run seventh inning to pull within two runs. Point added single runs in the eighth and ninth which would become significant as the Bears clawed back in the ninth before falling just short.
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Trent Little led the Bears' offense with a 1-for-3 effort that included a bases clearing double.
Chris Carden and
Peyton Fore each went 2-for-5 with a run batted in. Pitcher
Chris Stevens kept the Bears in the game while allowing just one earned run through 4.2 innings of work. Stevens limited the Skyhawks to only two hits throughout that time. Starting pitcher
Luke Henderson went 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs with three strikeouts. Point starting pitcher Josh Nestlehutt earned the win after tossing seven innings allowing two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
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The early tournament exit concluded the season for the Bears who finished the year at 19-32 overall and 8-19 in the league after earning their first ever trip to the AAC Conference Tournament.
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