WALESKA, Ga. (April 26, 2019) – The No. 18 Truett McConnell University baseball team traveled to Reinhardt University on Friday for game one of their final three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series. The Eagles mercy ruled the Bears in eight innings (15-5) which moved TMU to 27-16, 17-7 AAC on the year. The Bears are now tied for second alongside No. 23 Bryan College in the AAC regular season standings.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Reinhardt scored in the bottom of the first (0-1) but a double apiece by Patrick Overstreet and Tyler Pruett tied it back up in the top the second (1-1). After holding the Eagles scoreless in the bottom half of the second, the Bears scored again to get out front. Senior Austin Bishop singled up the middle and freshman John Michael McRae drove Bishop with a single to right field (2-1). However, it was only up from there for Reinhardt. The Eagles swung for eight hits and scored 10 runs in the bottom of the third, which ultimately proved to be the difference (2-11).
Following a scoreless fourth inning, Bishop led off the fifth with a single through the hole at second base. Bishop went on steal second and reached third on a ground out. McRae, once again, drove in Bishop with a sacrifice fly to left field (3-11). Junior Calob Rowland followed up with a solo shot over the right field fence on the first pitch (4-11). Jackson Meadors' single to center field scored Rowland in the top of the seventh (5-11) but the game proved to be out of reach after the Eagles scored four more runs in the bottom of the eighth (5-15).
LEADERS
Overstreet went perfect at the plate (3-for-3) with a 2B, a walk and a run scored. Rowland followed going 2-for-4 with an RBI, HR and two runs scored. Bishop went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored.
Freshman Brooks Rosser was handed the loss after throwing 2.2 innings allowing 10 hits while striking out four. Senior Ryan Reagan relieved Rosser for the final 5.0 innings allowing six hits while striking out two.
UP NEXT
The Bears will face Reinhardt for games two and three of the series Saturday, April 27, at 1:00 p.m. (DH), on the road. The doubleheader will conclude the regular season for TMU with the AAC tournament right around the corner on May 1 – May 4 in Kingsport, Tenn.