CLEVELAND, Ga. (April 9, 2022) – On Saturday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team hosted Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent, Bluefield College, for the final two games of the weekend series. The Bears lost in two hard-fought battles, 5-10 and 7-8. TMU's record falls to 18-16, 11-10 AAC, while the Rams rise to 22-11, 12-10 AAC.

GAME 1 | 5-10

In game one, the Rams were first to hit the board with seven runs in the top of the first inning (7-0). TMU looked to retaliate with a Tanner Griffith misplayed ball and a Mikal Mascarello single (7-1). An Isaak Mullanack walk and Ethan Roberts fielder's choice put runners in scoring position, followed by a Will Ingram walk to load the bases. A misplayed Jake Edwards ball scored two, making the score 7-3. In the second inning, a Griffith walk and Andrew Johnston single led to an error to score Griffith (7-4). Both teams were evenly matched until the Rams scored two more in the seventh and one in the ninth (10-4). A last minute attempt from TMU saw a Matthew Redmond single and a Mascarello double to score one, but still left them falling short 10-5. 

LEADERS

Mascarello led the way at the plate, going 2-5 with two RBI's. Griffith followed, going 1-2 at the plate with two runs. Johnston was 1-5 at the plate, while Ingram was 1-3 with one walk. Redmond was 1-4 with one run.

GAME 2 | 7-8

In game two, the Bears struck first with a misplayed ball hit by Griffith, followed by a stolen base. Mascarello singled to score Griffith, followed by a Mullanack single (1-0). An Ingram single loaded the bases, where an Edwards single scored two (3-0). The Rams were quick to respond with five runs in the top of the second, making the score 3-5, and adding more runs in the third and fourth (3-7). TMU tied the score in the fourth, starting with an Edwards double. A Redmond single scored Edwards, followed by a Johnston single (5-7). A Mascarello single loaded the bases, where a Brady Wilson single scored two (7-7). The Rams scored the deciding run in the top of the sixth, and the Bears were unable to respond, leaving them to fall 7-8.  

LEADERS

Mascarello and Edwards led at the plate, both individually  going 3-4. Mascarello had one RBI and one run, while Edwards had two RBIs and one run. Griffith followed going 1-4 at the plate with two runs. Johnston and Wilson were both 1-4, with Johnston tallying one RBI and Wilson tallying two RBIs.

UP NEXT
The Bears travel to Columbia, S.C. to face AAC foe Columbia International University on Tuesday, April 12. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.