KIRKSVILLE, Mo.--The Truman Baseball team closed out its series on Sunday afternoon against Southwest Baptist at Truman Baseball Park. In a game that featured a little bit of everything--homeruns, big innings, a rain delay and great defensive plays; the Bearcats took the final game 16-14 to split the series two wins each. Logan Sorrell (1-0) got the win while Tucker Olson (0-1) took the loss.
Truman got on the board first as Kevin Donohue reached third and Steven Bradbury reached second with one out. Will Fromm came up with two outs and hit a liner over the third baseman's head down the left field line to bring both runners in.
SBU bounced back in the top of the second with three runs. It was 2-2 when light hail began to come onto the field and the umpires pulled the players off for a nine minute weather delay. Olson relieved starter Jordan Marlott and inherited a pressure filled situation with the bases loaded and one out. One run came in, but Olson got the double play right after to keep it at 3-2.
Rolling into the bottom of the third, Kory Carter reached with two outs after being hit by a pitch and Will Fromm singled. With two on, Holden Missey hit the first of his two three-run blasts to put Truman back in the lead 5-3.
Some miscues by the Bulldogs in the top of the fourth allowed SBU to jump back on top 8-5. After five runs had already crossed, Jack Owens came to the mound and got a double play to end the inning and mitigate the damage. But SBU would strike again for four more in the top of the fifth to make it 12-5. But the game was far from over.
Kevin Donohue was hit by pitch to open the bottom of the fifth, and Bradbury singled. Later with two outs, Missey came to the plate and tagged Dalton Morrow for the second time with another three run shot. Evan Kayser followed with a single to right, Jake Schneider was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs. Dakota Spicer singled to the left side, which brought Kayser in to make it 12-9.
Things were quiet until the top of the seventh, when SBU struck for three more to make it 15-9. The Bulldogs would get one back in the bottom of the frame as Missey singled to open the inning and moved to third on a single from Spicer. Missey came in on a wild pitch, making it 15-10. Truman was up again in the bottom of the eighth, with two outs Carter drove one to the gap in right center, but SBU's Joe Wade made a great diving catch to move us onto the ninth.
SBU made it 16-10 in the top of the ninth, but Truman would not go down easy. Will Fromm opened with a single, followed by a double by Missey which advanced pinch runner Justin Maloney to third. Later, pinch hitter Jack Darwin doubled to right center to bring Maloney and Missey in; which made it 16-12.
Spicer got on base again with a single to the left side, moving Darwin to third. A sac fly by Sam Smith brought Darwin in to score, which made it 16-13. Donohue singled to the right side, which brought Spicer in to make it 16-14 with two outs. From there SBU closed the door on the Truman rally, in an incredible back and forth game.
The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend at home against Drury. First pitch Friday will be at 3 PM.
