DAYTON, Tenn. (Feb. 19, 2020) – The Truett McConnell University baseball team traveled to No. 18 Bryan College on Wednesday afternoon for a mid-week nine inning game. The Bears dominated the nationally-ranked Lions, an Appalachian Athletic Conference member, 18-1 to improve to 4-9 on the season. The win did not count towards TMU or Bryan's AAC record, however, with the Lions falling to an overall record of 8-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Freshman Tanner Griffith led off with a hit by pitch and fellow freshman Devyn Munroe sent him home on a single up the middle to immediately put the Bears out front in the top of the first (1-0). The Lions were unable to answer in the bottom half of the first and second but it was only up from there for the Bears. Three back to back walks loaded the bases for the Bears and Mason McLendon's single to left-center field scored the first run of TMU's first dominating inning of the day (2-0). Two more walks led to two more runs in the top of the third (4-0), freshman Brian Meyer singled to right to score McLendon (5-0), Jacob Ross' hit by pitch scored the sixth run (6-0) but Will Ingram's batted ball scored Connor Bearden to give the Bears a seven-run cushion (7-0). In fact, the Bears scored two more on a defensive error and another single to center (9-0).

Bryan was only capable of answering with one run the bottom of the fourth on a homer (9-1), but TMU wasn't finished. Johnston sparked the fifth inning with a double to right (10-1), Rowland hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Johnston (11-1) and Meyer doubled to score Munroe and McLendon (13-1). Despite another scoreless inning to follow, another hit by pitch and three more hits allowed five more runs to further put the game out of reach (18-1).

LEADERS

Overall, the Bears outhit the Lions 13-5. The senior All-American, Johnston, led the way going 4-for-5, with four runs and three RBI's. Meyer followed going 3-for-5, including two doubles and three RBI's. Munroe went perfect at the plate (2-for-2) with two runs and two RBI's. Griffith led with four runs.

Freshman Andrew Fry earned his first collegiate win after throwing six innings of four hits, one run, one walk and six strikeouts. Senior Evan Bensch relieved Fry for the final inning to allow one hit and tally two strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Bears are set to host Ohio Christian University on Friday, Feb. 21, at 12:00 p.m. (DH), and Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1:00 p.m.