CLEVELAND, Ga. (April 6, 2019) – After defeating No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan University (10-5) on Thursday in game one of the Appalachian Athletic Conference three-game series, the No. 20 Bears dropped the deciding double header by slim margins (7-5, 6-5) which handed TMU their first AAC series loss of the 2019 campaign. The Bears still hold their number one ranking in the conference with a one game cushion but declined to 23-11, 14-4 AAC on the year.
 
GAME ONE (7-5)
Neither team was able to get anything going offensively in the first two innings. After holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the top of the third, Connor Bearden led off the bottom half with a single to right field. Following a sacrifice bunt, Josh Johnston lined a single up the middle for the first run of the game (1-0).
 
Tennessee Wesleyan was able to push across two runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead (1-2). Both teams were unable to scratch any runs until the sixth inning where Adrian Marquez hit a solo homerun for the Bulldogs (1-3). However, the Bears were able to get runners on second and third with one out in the bottom, when freshman Jake Beach came in to pinch hit and smacked a single to right field to cut into the Bulldog lead (2-3). Mason Gaines also came in to pinch hit and single up the middle to score two more (4-3). Nonetheless, the Bulldogs responded in the top of the seventh with four runs of their own after a Shamoy Christopher three-run homerun (4-7).
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Johnston smacked a solo shot over the right field fence to start off the inning (5-7). The Bears threatened again in the eighth, but were unable to capitalize.
 
Cason Brown started the game on the mound and threw 6.0 innings, giving up three earned runs. Brooks Rosser and Craig Barton came in to throw the final 3.0 innings. Barton had an impressive outing with a stat line of 2.2 innings pitched, giving up only one hits and striking out two.
 
LEADERS
Johnston led the way going 3-for-5 with a HR and two RBI's. Patrick Overstreet also had a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with a 2B. Gaines was 1-for-1 with 2 RBI's while Beach was also 1-for-1 with one RBI.
 
GAME TWO (6-5)
The Bears got off to a hot start as Johnston led off the game with a line-drive single up the middle. Austin Bishop came up next and was hit by a pitch. Then, Meadors grounded out to score the first run of the game for the Bears (1-0). Overstreet came up with two outs and lined a single up the middle to add another run in the first inning to immediately give the Bears momentum (2-0).
 
After a scoreless second, the Bulldogs pushed across three runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead (2-3). Both teams then added a run each in the fifth inning, featuring Johnston's second solo homerun of the day over the right field fence (3-4).
 
Both teams would punch back in the sixth as TWU scored two runs in the top of the inning to extend their lead (3-6). The Bears fought back as Pruett hit a one out single and Beach, who came in to pinch hit again, lined a single of his own to right field. Gaines was clutch once again coming in to pinch hit as he smoked a double down the left field line to score Pruett to cut the Bulldog lead in half (4-6).
 
The Bears threatened again in the last inning as they were able to add a run after freshman Mason McLendon lined a single to right field to score Overstreet. The Bears had the tying run on third base with two outs, but were unable to capitalize as they fell in the series deciding game (5-6).
 
Gregory Elder Jr. started the game on the mound and pitched 6.0 innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits, while striking out six. Hammonds came in to pitch the final inning and was able to hold the Bulldogs hitless.
 
LEADERS
Johnston stayed hot as he went 2-for-3 and added another HR. Bishop was the only other Bear to record a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-3. Gaines, Beach, and McLendon all went 1-for-1 as they each came in to pinch hit for the Bears.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears are back on the road on Tuesday, April 9, at NCAA DII Southern Wesleyan University at 5:00 p.m.