CLEVELAND, Ga. (March 7, 2026) – On Friday and Saturday, the Truett McConnell University baseball team hosted Carolina University for a non-conference three-game series. The Bears swept Friday's doubleheader by scores of 7-3 and 6-5 before suffering a tough 8-5 loss in the series finale on Saturday. TMU rises to an overall record of 7-15, 0-9 AAC.
 
GAME 1
TMU 7 – CU 3
The Bears struck first in the opening inning when Jordan Cox came around to score on an RBI groundout by Caleb Williams, giving TMU an early 1-0 advantage. TMU added to its lead in the second inning, manufacturing two more runs. Paul Stroemer Jr. scored on an RBI groundout from C.J. Rivera, before Cox drove in another run with a groundout to second base, extending the Bears' lead to 3-0. The Bruins broke through in the sixth inning on a solo home run to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Bears responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning with a big offensive surge. Cox delivered an RBI single to right field that brought home Jackson Blackwood, before David Walters followed with a two-run single to center field, scoring Cox and Rivera to push TMU's lead to 6-1. CU attempted to rally in the seventh inning, scoring two runs on an error and a single, but the Bears held off the late push to secure the 7-3 victory.
 
GAME 2
TMU 6 – CU 5
The Bears jumped on the board early in the first inning when Williams came around to score on a Bruins error, giving TMU a 1-0 lead. TMU added three more runs in the second inning to extend its advantage. Stroemer Jr. scored after Dylan Hamby reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. Shortly after, Cox laid down a sacrifice that brought home Tanon Mankowski. The Bears continued to apply pressure as Rivera stole home, pushing the lead to 4-0. CU answered in the third inning, adding two to trim the lead to 4-2. The visitors continued to chip away in the fourth inning cutting the deficit to one. TMU quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Cox delivered an RBI single that allowed Mankowski to score after stealing third, before Williams followed with a run-scoring single to bring home Walters, extending the Bears' lead to 6-3. CU mounted another push in the fifth inning narrowing the score to 6-5, but the Bears held on the rest of the way to secure the victory.
 
GAME 3
The Bruins struck first in the opening inning with a sacrifice fly giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Bears answered in the bottom half of the inning when Williams delivered an RBI single to left field, allowing Cox to score and tying the game at 1-1. CU regained control in the third inning with a four-run frame (5-1). TMU began to chip away in the bottom of the third when Stroemer Jr. brought home Williams on a sacrifice groundout, trimming the deficit to 5-2. The Bears continued their rally in the fourth inning. Williams came through again with a two-run single that scored Walters and Cox, before Donovan Parker followed with an RBI double to left-center, tying the game at 5-5.
CU responded in the fifth inning with back-to-back RBI singles, regaining a 7-5 advantage. The visitors added an insurance run in the seventh closing the game with a final score, 8-5.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to face Spartanburg Methodist College for a three game Appalachian Athletic Conference series. Game one set for Friday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m. with the series doubleheader set for Saturday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m.