KIRKSVILLE, Mo.—On Friday one of the best pitcher's duels of the season took place as Truman ace Zachry Schneider faced off with Indianapolis' Xavier Rivas. Schneider won pitcher of the week the first weekend of the season, while Rivas has won it three times. Both were sensational, but neither got a decision in the 3-2 Bulldogs win. Holden Missey (1-0) picked up the win for the Bulldogs while Chaney Morgan (0-1) took the loss.
Schneider went eight innings and allowed only five hits and two walks while fanning six Greyhounds. In the first inning a two out walk and then stolen base and wild pitch moved the runner to third, but Schneider shut down the threat with a strikeout. Truman got two runners on in the bottom of the first but could not get either in to score.
Both pitchers cruised through the middle of the game, but Truman had a threat in the sixth as Tal Dean walked with one out. He advanced to second on a pass ball and then moved to third on a flyout. But he was stranded on third. In the top of the eighth, Indy had a chance with a leadoff single and then after two straight fielder's choices a double got two runners into scoring position. But a groundout on a good throw by Will Fromm from third ended the scoring threat.
In the bottom of the eighth, Sam Smith led off with a bunt single. Simon Murray moved Smith to second on a sac bunt. Dean grounded out to move Smith to third. Luke Turner walked to put runners on the corners and then Brennan Perkins came up and then deep in the count he lifted a ball to right field that dropped and brought Smith in easily but Turner also motored around the bases and made a great evasive move to avoid the tag at the plate and score to make it 2-0.
In the top of the ninth, Missey came in to get the save but the Greyhounds got on with a walk, then later a single brought in the leadoff man to score. Later with two outs Indy sent the runner from second trying to steal but Dylan Thompson made a great throw to get the second out of the inning. But after a walk and a single Indy tied the game at two.
In the bottom of the frame Smith walked and stole second but couldn't score. But in the bottom of the 11th Will Fromm singled and then Justin Maloney came in to pinch run. He moved to second on an RBI single, then moved to third on a flyout to right. With two outs Smith came up to the plate and then beat out a single as the first baseman's foot came off the bag so Maloney scored the winning run.
The teams will resume their series tomorrow at 1 PM with a double header.
