CLEVELAND, Ga. (February 29, 2024) – On Thursday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team hosted St. Andrews University in an Appalachian Athletic Conference match-up, where the Bears split in the series doubleheader, falling in game one 13-7 and bouncing back in game two 2-1. 
 
GAME ONE | 13-7 LOSS
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Knights opened the series by putting two runs on the board in the top of the first (0-2). The Bears quickly responded with an RBI single to center field by Ethan Roberts that brought Caleb Ramsey home (1-2). The Knights continued to increase their lead with three more runs, when a clutch two RBI single to right field by Caleb Ramsey proved capable of bringing two Bears to the plate, tying the score 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams saw three scoreless innings as the competition intensified between the Bears and Knights, when seven more runs for SAU made their way on the board, creating a marginal gap between the two teams (5-13). A final last chance effort by TMU with a two RBI double by Mikal Mascarello attempted to change the game but was ultimately unable to bridge the wide gap created by the visiting team, falling to a final score of 7-13.
 
LEADERS
Ramsey led the way for the Bears going 1-3 at the plate, recording three runs, two RBIs, and two walks. Mascarello followed going 1-4 with two RBIs and one walk, while Brodie Genter went 1-5 with two RBI's. Roberts was featured going 2-4 at the plate with one RBI, while Matthew Redmond, Hunter Fleming, Jake Edwards, and Jacob Karvelos had one run apiece. Pitchers Caleb Johnson and Hank Simonds recorded three strikeouts apiece.
 
GAME TWO | 2-1 WIN
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
In game two, the action was slow to start as the first four innings were a scoreless stalemate. It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning that TMU finally made their mark as smart base running by the Bears found Ramsey capable of scoring on a wild pitch error by the Knights (1-0). SAU quickly responded in the sixth inning with a run of their own, tying the game 1-1. Both teams battled eager to take the game when great defense by TMU set the Bears up for success in the bottom of the seventh. The final inning began with a lead-off double by Ramsey. A sacrifice bunt by Tanner Griffith continued to move Ramsey to third, placing him in scoring position, when a walk-off single by Roberts brought Ramsey home, taking game two, 2-1.
 
LEADERS
Ramsey led the way once again going 1-3 at the plate with one walk and two runs. Roberts followed going 1-4 with one RBI, while Griffith was featured going 1-2 with one walk. Caleb Gentry followed going 1-1 with one walk. Pitcher Samuel Crew recorded nine strikeouts on the evening.
 
UP NEXT 
The Bears will take on the Knights in the final game of the series on Friday, March 1, with a game time set for 11 a.m., weather permitting.