CLEVELAND, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2022) On Saturday, the Truett McConnell Univerisity baseball team sealed their first conference series win over Kentucky Christian University, with final scores of 5-3 (9-innings) and 15-1 (7-innings). The Bears are now sitting at a record of 8-7, 3-3 AAC. 

GAME 2 | 5-3
KCU scored in the top of the first to take an early lead , but the Bears did not hesitate to respond as they tied it up in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly from Will Ingram to score Andrew Johnston from third (1-1). The Knights stole the lead once more with a run in the top of the second, while TMU tied the game in the bottom of the third after an RBI single to left field from Mikal Mascarello sent Matt Redmond home (2-2). The top of the sixth inning saw KCU take back the lead, but the game was ultimately put out of reach by the Bears in the bottom of the seventh and eighth inning after individual Ethan Roberts, Griffin Kanelos and Ingram RBIs (5-3). 

LEADERS
Mascarello was perfect at the plate going 3-3 with one run, one RBI and two walks. Roberts went 2-2 with one RBI, respectfully. Ingram recorded a single hit with two RBIs, while Johnston went 1-3 with two runs. 

Pitcher Caleb Johnson earned the win after pitching 3.2 innings and recorded one strikeout, two walks and two runs, Craig Barton earned the save after pitching 5.1 innings and recorded five strikeouts, zero walks, and one run. 

GAME 3 | 15-1
The Bears managed to get uo by three in the bottom of the first after Mascerello, Roberts and Ingram RBI singles (3-0). Kentucky Christian scored their first and only run of the game in the top of the second inning, but a Johnston two run homerun counteracted any KCU efforts to lessen the gap (5-1). The bottom of the fourth and fifth innings saw TMU resilient in the box, capable of increasing their lead to nine (10-1), while the bottom of th six saw no hope for the Knights as the Bears ran away with a dominating 15-1 victory. 

LEADERS
Roberts was perfect at the plate, going 4-4 with two RBIs, one run and one walk. Tanner Griffith went 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs, one run and one walk, while Redmond went 2-4 at the plate. Mascarello went 2-3 with two runs, one RBI and one walk, followed by Ingram who went 2-2 with two RBIs. Johnston went 2-3 with two runs and an impressive three RBis, while pitcher Jonathan Joiner earned the win after pitching 5.0 innings and recorded three strikeouts, one run, one walk and four hits. 

UP NEXT 
The Bears will travel to face Toccoa Falls College in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, March 1, with game time TBA.