CLEVELAND, Ga. (April 14, 2023) – The Truett McConnell University baseball team braced the elements in addition to Jonhson University in an Appalachian Athletic Conference on Friday evening. The Bears and Royals played five and a half innings of baseball, with TMU ultimately running away with a 7-3 win to improve to 28-10 (12-6 AAC), while JU dropped to 5-37 (4-21 AAC). 

PLAY-BY-PLAY
In the bottom of the first, Andrew Johnston blasted a solo home run to center field to put the Bears on the board. The Royals answered with two runs in the top of the second innings to gain their first and only lead. In the third inning down 1-2,  Johnston would return to work at the plate with a double to bring in two runs to give TMU the lead back. Mikal Mascarello followed it up with a sacrifice fly to score Tanner Griffith from third base to make it 4-2. The Bears would add another two runs when Jacob Karvales lined a single to left field to increase the lead to four runs. 

The Royals would try again to come from behind with a lone run in the top of the fifth. The Bears answered in the bottom half when Marcarello reached on a walk and was eventually brought home when Karvelas got his third RBI of the game with a double to left field to make it 7-3. 

Due to the weather, the game ended up being called halfway through the sixth inning, solidifying the victory for the Bears. 

LEADERS

Karvelas led the way on offense for the Bears, going a perfect 3-3 at the plate with three RBIs. Johnston also recorded three RBIs after going 2-3 with two runs. Ethan Roberts had a solid day after he went 2-3 with one run. 

Pitcher Tyler Gray recorded the win after going five innings, allowing only three runs and striking out two batters. 

UP NEXT

TMU will take on JU again on Saturday in a doubleheader at the TMU Baseball Complex. The first game is set to start at 1:00 p.m. Senior day festivities are set to take place before game one.