KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The first win of the season for Bulldog Baseball came via eight walks and three errors by Rockhurst (Mo.) to split a doubleheader Tuesday.
 
Truman State plated three runs via bases-loaded walks in the first and another three in the sixth then weathered a Rockhurst rally in the bottom of the seventh to win 7-5. Earlier, the Bulldogs got out to a 2-0 lead early in Game 1, but a two-run Hawk fifth provided the margin of victory and deal Truman State its seventh loss of the season.
 
"Pitching, clutch hitting, and great defense. Just a tremendous effort," head coach Dan Davis said of the win.
 
The 'Dogs busted out a little power in Game 1 when junior Tyler Tieman knocked his first home run of the season followed by a double by senior Luke Roussel. Roussel scored one batter later when redshirt freshman Ian Thornton singled to finish scoring for the inning and Truman State in the game.
 
Freshman Danny Lindsey went the distance taking the loss despite giving up just six hits and two walks. Trouble came in the fifth when, with Truman State leading 2-1, Rockhurst got a lead-off single followed by a double and wild pitch to tie. A sacrifice fly gave the Hawks all they would need for the win.
 
Game 2 opened with the 'Dogs sending six to the plate and scoring three runs before Rockhurst was able to record an out. Sophomore Dakota Joggerst, Tieman, and Roussel all recorded RBI walks with the bags juiced before a Rockhurst pitching change calmed things down and got the Hawks out of the inning. Redshirt freshman Charlie Berry led off the fourth with a walk and would later come around to score on a single by sophomore Oliver Degenhardt after advancing to second on a failed pickoff attempt and sac bunt by junior Rawlins Brant. 
 
"The offense manufactured and hit in the clutch," Davis said. "We ran the bases well today getting five stolen bases. Great signs of things to come."
 
The three-run sixth for the Bulldogs started with a Browning single followed by a Brant with Browning scoring when the two ran a double steal with a Rockhurst throwing error. Tieman knocked a two-run double later in the inning opening a 7-2 lead for the Purple and White to give the junior first baseman three RBI in the two games.
 
Things got dicey in the bottom of the seventh when Rockhurst tallied three runs, but senior Kyle Stratman came in to close things out and leave the bases loaded to hold on for the win.
 
"We had some pressure put on us there at the end, lost a little command, but Kyle came in and finished the deal," Davis said. "Good day overall, good weekend. We were one hit away in all four."
 
Truman State finishes the day 1-7 overall while Rockhurst opens its season 3-1. The weekend sees the Bulldogs traveling to Rolla, Mo., for a four-game non-conference series at 1-2 Missouri S&T.