CLEVELAND, Ga. (February 4, 2023) - On Saturday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team competed in the series doubleheader against Florida Palms University, where the Bears tallied 13 runs in game one to seal the win (13-3) and finished the series sweep with a 14-0 victory. 

Most notable, freshman Caleb Gentry recorded his first collegiate grand slam, followed by junior Jordan Kenty recording his first collegiate home run In game one. Freshman Dylan Sargent collected his first collegiate home run In game two, while the Bears concluded the series with a total of 44 runs scored over the span of three games. 

GAME 1 | 13-3
The Bears were hot out of the gates with a Tanner Griffith walk and Andrew Johnston double (1-0). A Jake Edwards triple to right field paired with a Gentry double saw TMU collect an early lead (3-0). The bottom of the third was pivotal for the Bears, where a double from Johnston and walks from Mascarello and Edwards loaded the bases. A clutch grand slam from Gentry raised the Bears score to 7-0. Ethan Roberts continued the rally with a single, while Caleb Williams collected a walk. Kenty added to TMU's lead with a three-run bomb over the left field fence to close the third inning (10-0). In the top of the fifth, Florida Palms scored two runs to cut the Bears' lead (10-2). TMU responded with a walk from Gage Gray, a Jacob Karvelas single and Griffith hit-by-pitch. With bases loaded, Johnston was recorded a hit by pitch, paired with sacrifice flies from Mascarello and Gentry (13-2). The Florida Palms saw their last run of the evening in the top of the sixth, giving the Bears a 13-3 victory. 

LEADERS
Gentry went 3-3 at the plate with six RBIs and one run, while Johnston was 2-2 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs. Edwards was 1-1 at the plate, collecting one RBI, while Kenty was 1-2 at the plate, collecting three RBIs.

Pitcher Tyler Gray recorded two strikeouts on the day and only allowed three hits over five innings. Phillip Braswell was seen recording one strikeout.

GAME 2 | 14-0
The Bears kept the momentum rolling with an electric third inning, starting with a Matthew Redmond double to left field and sacrifice fly from Russell Kiser (1-0). With runners in scoring position, a single from Griffith and double from Johnston continued to grow TMU's lead (2-0). Singles from Edwards, Gentry and Roberts propelled the Bears forward, where a double from Redmond and a two-run homerun from Dylan Sargent closed the third inning (9-0). Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, where a Gray single to left field, Kiser hit-by-pitch and Karvelas sacrifice fly added to TMU's lead (12-0). The Bears collected their final runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a Sargent hit-by-pitch and Karvelas single, giving the Bears a 14-0 victory. 

LEADERS
Griffith led the way, going 3-3 at the plate with one run and one RBI. Roberts followed going 3-3 with one RBI and three runs, while Redmond was 2-2 with two RBIs and three runs. 

Pitcher Jacob Adams recorded five strikeouts and only allowed one hit over four innings to record his first win of the season. 

UP NEXT 
The Bears are back inside the TMU Baseball Complex for a non-conference double-header with Indiana University Kokomo on Friday, February 10, with game times are set for 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.