CLEVELAND, Ga. (February 3, 2024) - On Saturday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team competed in the final double header of the four game series against Indiana University Kokomo, where the Bears found victory in game one of the day (5-1) and dropped game two after a tough one run loss, 8-7.  TMU finishes the weekend with an overall record of 3-1, while IUK falls to a record of 1-3.
 
GAME 1 | 5-1
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Bears started off hot in the first inning, when an error by IUK followed by a one RBI single to left field by Tanner Griffith, brought Cason Firth home. TMU continued their momentum into the second inning with back-to-back singles by Jordan Kenty and Matt Redmond, putting TMU in prime position to add one more to the board as a sacrifice fly by Jacob Karvelos, gave Kenty the clear to head home (2-0). The Third inning saw action for both teams as the Cougars finally added a run. In the bottom of the third, a Mascarello single, a single by Dylan Sargent, and a walk for Caleb Ramsey put TMU in prime position as the bases became load, when a single by Kenty put another run onto the board (3-1). The Bears saw three scoreless innings as they entered the bottom of the sixth up by two, when a sacrifice out by Redmond, advanced Ramsey to home. A passed ball by the visiting team once again gave Kenty a clear path to Homeplate as TMU scored their fifth and final run of the game, resulting in a game three Bears win, 5-1.
 
LEADERS
Kenty led the way going 3-3 at the plate, with one RBI. Griffith followed going 2-3 at the plate, with one RBI, while Ramsey, Redmond and Karvelos all went 1-2, recording one RBI a piece. Pitcher Samuel Crew was featured recording three strikeouts.
 
GAME 2 | 7-8
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Game two started off slow with both teams recording clean outs in the first two innings. The Cougars caught a late burst of energy in the top of the third, producing five runs over the Bears (0-5). IUK continued to increase their lead over the Bears with two more runs as TMU fought to keep up. Consecutive doubles by Griffith and Brodie Genter in the bottom of the fourth, final put TMU on the board as the Bears trailed by six (1-7). The bottom of the fifth saw a ton of action for TMU as a walk by Roberts, single for Ramsey, and a hit by pitch for Mascarello, put the bases loaded. Another walk for Griffith, gave the Bears run two as TMU worked their way around the horn (2-7). Genter continued to add runs to the board as a double to center field brought Mascarello and Ramsey home (4-7). TMU continued to find success in the bottom of the fifth, as smart hitting and base running kept the Bases loaded. A sacrifice out by Kenty, hit by pitch by Roberts, and a single by Ramsey, proved the Bears capable of tying up the game (7-7). The Bears battled the Cougars to the very end but were ultimately unable to come out on top with the win as a single by the opposing team put the final run on the board, falling to a final score of 7-8.
 
LEADERS
Genter was featured going 3-4 at the plate while recording three RBIs. Ramsey followed, going 2-4 with one RBI, while Griffith, Roberts, Kenty and Karvelos recorded one RBI a piece. Pitcher Griffin Kanelos recorded two strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
TMU will be back in action at home, Tuesday, February 6, as they host Toccoa falls college for a non-conference match-up inside the TMU Baseball Complex. Game time set for 3:00 p.m.