KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — The Truman State Bulldogs hosted Missouri S&T for a four-game GLVC series over the weekend, dropping all four contests as the Miners had very consistent offensive outputs across all four games on the series.
Game 1 — Friday, March 20 | Missouri S&T 6, Truman 4
Friday's opener was the closest game of the weekend and featured multiple lead changes deep into regulation. Truman drew first blood in the second inning when Tyler Towe singled to left field to score Evan Davis, and Shodai Nishihara added an RBI groundout in the fourth to push the lead to 2–0.
Missouri S&T clawed back in the sixth with two unearned runs to tie the game at 2–2, then took their first lead of the game in the seventh when a passed ball allowed Aiden Cizek to score, making it 3–2 Miners. Truman responded immediately, as Oliver Degenhardt singled through the left side to score Tyler Towe and knot the game at 3–3. The Bulldogs then grabbed their first lead since the fourth inning when Joey Fentress scored on a passed ball in the eighth, putting Truman ahead 4–3 with three outs to go.
Missouri S&T rallied for three runs in the ninth with a Will Muench RBI single scoring Scott Thompson, a Keaton Scott RBI single scoring Caleb Horsey, and a rundown play that brought Will Muench home for a 6-4 lead that would hold through the bottom of the ninth. Isaac Epp was outstanding in his start for the Bulldogs, limiting S&T to two unearned runs over six innings while striking out eight. Tyler Towe went 2-for-4 and scored twice, Nick Steurer went 2-for-5, and Evan Davis scored twice as well. Ian Junkin took the loss in relief.
Game 2 — Saturday, March 21 (DH Game 1) | Missouri S&T 11, Truman 1
Saturday's doubleheader opened with a difficult first game for Truman. Missouri S&T scored twice in the first inning and then sent eleven batters to the plate in the second, erupting for seven runs to put the game away early. Damgaard delivered a two-RBI single in the first for the Miners, and Baugus added a two-RBI single in the second as part of the Miners' massive frame.
The Bulldogs got their lone run in the sixth inning when Evan Davis singled to right field to score Oliver Degenhardt, who had reached on a single. Caden Carroll started for Truman and was charged with the loss, while Elijah Belden provided a clean finish, retiring all seven batters he faced over 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Evan Davis paced the Bulldogs with a 2-for-3 afternoon.
Game 3 — Saturday, March 21 (DH Game 2) | Missouri S&T 7, Truman 1
The afternoon game of Saturday's doubleheader featured another solid start for Truman on the mound. Nick Phillips worked 5.1 innings for the Bulldogs, striking out five, as Truman kept the contest within reach through the early going. Missouri S&T broke through for three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to close out the victory.
Reed Drabant provided the offensive highlight for Truman, finishing 2-for-3 and delivering the Bulldogs' only RBI of the game in the seventh inning with a single through the left side that scored Joey Fentress, who had been hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch. Evan Davis and Charlie Berry also recorded hits. Hayden Holman finished the game in relief for Truman.
Game 4 — Sunday, March 22 | Missouri S&T 10, Truman 0
Sunday's series finale was controlled throughout by Missouri S&T starter Dylan Bates, who spun a complete-game shutout, striking out 11 Bulldogs on 98 pitches while allowing just five hits. Bates improved to 4–0 on the season with the performance.
Missouri S&T scored once in the second on a Baugus RBI double, added runs in the fourth and fifth, and pulled away with six runs in the seventh to close out the 10–0 final. Gavin Schieffer led the Bulldogs at the plate, going 2-for-2. Oliver Degenhardt and Evan Davis each added a hit, and Charlie Berry also reached safely. Danny Lindsey started for the Bulldogs, working 5.1 innings before being relieved by Jack Pearson and Alex Wittenauer.
Up Next:
Truman State now stands at 7-18 and 1-11 in GLVC play. The Bulldogs will travel to Lewis next weekend for another four game series that features game one scheduled for Friday at 2:00 PM, games two and three on Saturday at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM, before wrapping up the series on Sunday with a noon first pitch.
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