CLEVELAND, Ga. (March 10, 2023) - The Truett McConnell University baseball team hosted Appalachian Athletic Conference competitor Point University on Friday evening. The Bears lit up the scoreboard with 12 hits, followed by a solid pitching performance to win the first game of the three-game series by a final score of 12-2. TMU improves to 15-6, 5-4 AAC, while the Skyhawks drop to 11-7-1, 5-2 AAC.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Point University's only lead came in the top of the first inning, where the Skyhawks recorded two quick runs, but would go scoreless for the remainder of the game. In the bottom half, Ethan Roberts led the Bear's offensive outing with a leadoff walk, while Tanner Griffith reached first after a hit by pitch. With a runner on first and second, Andrew Johnston singled to center field, while Mikal Mascarello got the Bears on the board with a sacrifice fly, making the score 2-1. TMU took the lead with four runs in the second inning, thanks to a couple of walks by Caleb Williams and Jacob Karvelas, a Roberts hit by pitch and one more walk to Griffith to bring home Williams to tie the game (2-2). The Bears gained the lead on the next at-bat when Johnston laced a 3-RBI double to center field to gain a larger advantage. 

TMU would pile on to the existing lead in the fourth and fifth inning with four different RBI singles by Dylan Sargent, Griffth, Johnston and Mascarello to make it 10-2. In the seventh, the remaining two runs came from a Johnston sacrifice fly, shortly followed by Sargent's second RBI single to contribute to the final score of 12-2.
 
LEADERS
Johnston led the offensive effort for the Bears, going 3-3 with five RBIs and a walk. Roberts diced up four runs after going 2-2 with a walk. Sargent recorded multiple hits on Friday with his pair of RBI singles. 
 
Pitcher Tyler Gray pitched all seven innings for the Bears in a winning effort. Gray improves to 5-2 on the season after recording six straight scoreless innings to end the game.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears return for a Saturday doubleheader against Point University on March 11, inside the TMU Baseball Complex. Game times are set for 12:00p.m. and 4:00p.m.