CLEVELAND, Ga. (April 18, 2019) – The No. 18 Truett McConnell University baseball team split with Montreat College for the opening doubleheader of the three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series on Thursday afternoon. The Bears fell in game one (14-4) but bounced back to take game two (6-4), which moved TMU to 26-14, 17-5 AAC on the year.

GAME ONE (14-4), 8 INNINGS

After holding the Cavaliers hitless and scoreless in the top of the first, the Bears recorded two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Connor Bearden's single through the hole at second base scored Calob Rowland and Josh Johnston to immediately put TMU out front (2-0).

Nonetheless, Montreat loaded the bases a few times to score a total of 10 runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Bears, however, scored another run in the fifth and seventh but it proved not enough.

Sophomore Craig Barton, the most recent NAIA and AAC pitcher of the week, was handed the loss after throwing the first 5.0 innings allowing six hits while striking out four. Nick Hammonds and Ryan Reagan stepped in to relieve in the final 3.0 innings.

LEADERS

Johnston was perfect at the plate (2-for-2) with two runs and two walks. Additionally, Johnston recorded five stolen bases. Bearden went 1-for-2 with three RBI's, Tyler Pruett added a single and Austin Bishop added a double.

GAME TWO (6-4)

Montreat was first on the scoreboard this time around with two runs in the top of the first but TMU responded with two of their own in the bottom half. After a leadoff double by Bishop, Johnston drove him home with a double himself down the right field line (1-2). Johnston advanced to the third on John Michael McRae's single to right field but slid home on a wild throw (2-2). The Cavs were held hitless and scoreless in the second but freshman Will Ingram's single to right field drove in Bearden for the go-ahead run (3-2).

The Cavs tied it back up in the top of the fourth inning (3-3) but Mason Gaines sparked a huge inning for the Bears in the bottom of the fourth with a double deep down the left field line. Gaines ran home on Pruett's single to short (4-3), Pruett scored on Johnston's sacrifice fly to deep right field (5-3) and Patrick Overstreet's single to third scored Shane Smith (6-3). Montreat scored one more run in the top of the seventh but junior left fielder Evan Bensch made an incredible diving play on a fly ball that secured the win.

Senior Gregory Elder Jr. was credited the win after throwing the first 4.0 innings allowing four hits while striking out six. Freshman Brooks Rosser earned his second save on the year after throwing the final 3.0 innings allowing two hits while striking out three.

LEADERS

Johnston and Pruett each went 2-for-3 with one run apiece. Johnston added two RBI's and a 2B. Bishop and Overstreet went 2-for-4 with a 2B apiece. Bishop added a run.

UP NEXT

The Bears are set to play game three of the series against Montreat on Saturday, April 20, at 1:00 p.m., for senior day.