CLEVELAND, Ga. (March 11, 2019) – After sweeping Thursday's doubleheader, the Truett McConnell University baseball team dropped game three of the Appalachian Athletic Conference series against No. 14 Bryan College on Monday afternoon (12-8). The Bears fell to 11-8, 5-1 AAC on the year while the Lions improved to 16-6, 4-2 AAC.

Senior Austin Bishop hit for the 'cycle' after recording a single, double, triple and home run all in the same game.

PLAY-BY-PLAY

Bryan started off the game hot by belting three home runs in the top of the first to take the lead (5-0). The Bears threatened in the bottom of the inning after Bishop started his outstanding day at the plate with a triple down the right field line, however, Bishop was left stranded to end the inning.

After a scoreless top of the second, Jackson Meadors led off the bottom half with a walk and John Michael McRae reached safely on an error. After a sacrifice bunt, freshman Connor Bearden drove in the Bears first run of the day on a groundout to shortstop (1-5).

The Bears kept fighting back by plating another run in the bottom of the third. Bishop led off with a single to right-center. After the Bears loaded the bases, McRae hit a deep fly ball to centerfield that would score Bishop (2-5). McRae's fly ball had the chance to leave the park for a grand slam, but the Bryan centerfielder made an outstanding catch by climbing the wall to rob the home run. 

Bryan was able to score a run in the top of the fourth inning (2-6). However, the Bears were relentless again as they were able to scratch a run in the bottom half. Bearden led off the inning with a single up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt, Bishop recorded his third hit of the day on a double down the left field line to score Bearden (3-6). The Bears would go on to load the bases with two outs, but left the runners stranded to end the inning.

After an hour and a half rain delay, both teams came back on the field to finish the game. Both teams would go scoreless in the fifth inning, but the Bears pulled closer in the sixth. Bryan pushed across one run in the top of the inning to make the score 3-7. The Bears would continue to fight as Bishop led off the bottom of the sixth with his first home run of the season, clearing the left-center field fence (4-7). Patrick Overstreet then hit a one-out single, and after a McRae and Will Ingram walk, the Bears loaded the bases. With two outs and two strikes, Bearden lined a two RBI single to left-center field to pull the Bears within one run (6-7).

Bryan added another run to their lead in the top of the seventh (6-8) but Meadors hit a one-out single to start the rally in the bottom of the eighth. Bases loaded, Tyler Pruett worked a long at bat and eventually reached base on a walk to bring home pinch runner Andrew Johnston (7-8). Another hit by pitch sent home another pinch runner, Grant McDonel (8-8). With the bases loaded and two outs, Bishop hit a line drive to shallow right field that would have pushed the leading run across, but the Bryan right fielder made a diving catch to end the inning.

The Lions pushed across four runs in the top of the ninth to put the game out of reach for the Bears (8-12).

PITCHING | BY THE NUMBERS

Sophomore Craig Barton got the start on the mound and pitched 4.0 innings. After giving up five runs in the first inning, Barton came back to throw three solid innings for the Bears. Avery Hopper came on in relief and pitched 2.0 innings giving up two earned runs. Although given the loss, junior Nick Hammonds pitched the next 2.1 innings and gave up only two hits, one earned run, while striking out four. Senior Greg Elder Jr. pitched the final 0.2 innings for the Bears.

LEADERS

Bishop led the offensive attack by going 5-for-6 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Bishop hit a triple in his first at bat in the bottom of the first inning. Then the senior hit a single in the bottom of the third, and a double in the bottom of the fourth. Bishop completed the rare and historic accomplishment of hitting for the cycle after he blasted his first career home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Junior Josh Johnston also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-5, also recording a stolen base. Bearden recorded a multi-hit game, going 3-for-5 with three RBI's and a run scored.

Bishop and Johnston are both ranked in the AAC's top five batting averages. Bishop's current average is .431 while Johnston's is .403, respectively.

UP NEXT

The Bears are set host Point University for another AAC series beginning Friday, March 15, at 12:00 p.m.