LAURINBURG, N.C. (March 5, 2022) – On Saturday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team remained in Laurinburg, N.C. for an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader against St. Andrews University. The Bears split with the Knights (6-3 and 0-5) to sit at a record of 11-8, 5-4 AAC, while the Knights sit at a record of 15-5, 4-2 AAC.

GAME 1 | 6-3
In game one, the Bears were first on the board with a Matthew Redmond single to left field. Will Ingram reached first and moved Redmond to third, where a Tanner Griffith RBI single scored Redmond from third (1-0). A Griffin Kanelos double scored Ingram to raise the score to 2-0. The Knights retaliated quickly by tying up the score, 2-2. In the second, the Bears saw a Kodi Bishop single and a Redmond single put runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Andrew Johnston scored Bishop, while a Mikal Mascarello single scored Redmond (4-2). Strong defense from both teams helped the score remain the same until the Knights were capable of adding one more run in the bottom of the sixth (4-3). In the top of the ninth, a Mascarello single followed by an Ingram single led the way for a promising inning. Mascarello scored on a Griffith single (5-3), while a Kanelos and Ethan Roberts single scored Grifiith for the final run of the game (6-3).

LEADERS
Kanelos led the way offensively, going 3-5 at the plate with one RBI. Redmond followed going 2-5 at the plate with two runs. Ingram and Roberts both went 2-5 at the plate, while Ingram tallied one run and Roberts had one RBI.
Pitcher Craig Barton tallied nine strikeouts over six innings while earning his third win of the season. Jonathan Joiner earned his first save of the season with one strikeout recorded.

GAME 2 | 0-5
In the second inning, the Knights were able to put up their first two runs of the game (0-2). In the fourth, a Kanelos walk followed by a Cade Kiniry walk had runners in scoring position, but TMU was unable to produce. By the bottom of the sixth, the Knights managed to put up their final three runs of the game (0-5). With their last hope in the top of the seventh, the Bears had Brody Wilson reach first on a hit by pitch. Pinch runner, Kiniry, reached third on two wild pitches. TMU was unable to push the run across, leaving them to fall 0-5.

LEADERS
Mascarello led the way, going 1-3 at the plate, followed by Ingram and Jake Edwards each going 1-2 at the plate. Pitcher Tyler Gray and Jared Johnson both tallied two strikeouts, followed by Kanelos with one strikeout.

UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to Greenville, S.C. for a non-conference game against Bob Jones University on Tuesday, March 8. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.