CLEVELAND, Ga. (April 2, 2019) – Freshman John Michael McRae's walk-off single against NCAA DII Emmanual College enabled the No. 20 Truett McConnell University baseball team's seventh straight win on Tuesday evening (5-4). The Bears improved to 22-9, 13-2 AAC on the year and received their first national ranking in school history in Tuesday's NAIA national top 25 poll (No. 20).

PLAY-BY-PLAY

Emmanuel recorded a run in the first and second inning (0-2) but the Bears tied it back up in the bottom of the fourth. Jackson Meadors ran home on Connor Bearden's ground out (1-2) but it was freshman Tyler Pruett's single to center field that scored the Calob Rowland for the tying run (2-2). The Lions scored another run in the sixth and eighth inning but TMU didn't stay behind for long (2-4).

McRae sparked a huge inning for the Bears with a single to right field. However, it was Rowland's bunt that created TMU's runs. Emmanuel's pitcher fielded the bunt that was rolling down the third base line and sailed the throw over the first baseman's head to score two for the Bears (4-4).

After holding Emmanuel scoreless in the top of the ninth, Josh Johnston led off the bottom of the inning with a clutch two-strike double off the right field wall. McRae came up next and delivered a walk-off single up the middle as Johnston slid home to beat the throw from the centerfielder (5-4).

LEADERS

Pruett led the way going 2-for-3 while Austin Bishop, Johnston and McRae went 2-for-5.

Freshman Avery Hopper got the start on the mound for the Bears and pitched 7.0 innings, giving up only four hits and three earned runs. Nick Hammonds picked up the win on the mound after pitching the final 2.0 innings, giving up 1 earned run on one hit.

UP NEXT

The Bears will host Appalachian Athletic Conference No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan University Friday, April 5 – Saturday, April 6.