CLEVELAND, Ga. (April 21, 2023) – The Truett McConnell University baseball team's 14-game winning streak ended on Friday against Milligan University. However, the Bears split the Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Buffaloes by winning game two (2-1) after dropping game one (1-5). TMU's record moved to 33-11 (17-7 AAC) and MU moved to 27-17 (12-14 AAC). 

GAME 1 | 1-5
The Bears and Buffaloes were scoreless until the top of the fifth when MU put up five runs. TMU did have a chance in the third inning to take an early lead after Matthew Redmond led off with a single to be followed up by a Mikal Mascarello single, but no runs came from it. The Bears got another hit in the sixth inning and would eventually get on the board in the eighth when Mascerello launched a solo home run to make it a four-run game. However, the TMU offense couldn't complete the comeback, resulting in the 1-5 loss. 

LEADERS
Mikal Mascerello scored the lone run for the Bears after going 2-4 at the plate with his solo home run. Matthew Redmond went 1-2 with a walk and Jacob Karvelas also recorded a hit, going 1-4. 

Pitcher John James threw two scoreless innings in relief, striking out two batters and surrendering only two hits. 

GAME 2 | 2-1
The first two innings were a scoreless stalemate. It wasn't until the third inning that MU struck with their first and only run of the game. In the bottom half of the third, Mascarello lined a double to left field to lead off. With one out, Tanner Griffith tied up the game 1-1 with an RBI single. Griffith immediately stole second base and was brought home when Jordan Kenty doubled to give TMU the 2-1 lead. Ethan Roberts also singled in the inning, but no runs were added on. The rest of the evening was carried by the TMU pitchers, who put out four scoreless innings to close the game and seal the 2-1 TMU win. 

LEADERS
Mascarello went a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a double and a run. Kenty also went 3-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Three other players in Roberts, Caleb Gentry and Griffith went 1-3. 

Pitchers Andrew Fry and Jonathan Joiner combined for three innings, giving up only two hits and no runs. Fry and Jacob Adams, who started the game and got the win, struck out two batters each. 

UP NEXT
The Bears will close out the regular season in a three-game series against Bryan College starting on Thursday, April 27. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the TMU Baseball Complex.