The Truman State baseball team played a four-game series at Quincy this weekend, facing one of the stronger programs in the GLVC. The Bulldogs showed they could compete and even had the lead late in one game, with several individual performances standing out across the series.
Game 1: March 6 | L, 9-10
The opener was the most dramatic game of the series and one Truman nearly pulled off. The Bulldogs trailed 6-1 heading into the sixth inning before erupting for four runs, capped by a Charlie Berry RBI single and a pair of wild pitches that brought home two more runs to make it 6-5. Truman added another run in the seventh on an Evan Davis sacrifice fly, then took the lead for the first time in the eighth on a big three-run frame: Colin Mueth doubled home a run, Oliver Degenhardt added a sacrifice fly, and Nick Steurer doubled in another to put the Bulldogs up 9-7. Quincy tied it with a two-run home run by Mansfield in the bottom of the eighth, then walked it off on a Fandre solo shot in the ninth to end it 10-9. Berry went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Shodai Nishihara drove in the Bulldogs' first run with an RBI double in the fourth. Isaac Epp started on the mound and worked five innings.
Game 2: March 7 | L, 0-2
The first game of Saturday's doubleheader was a tight pitching duel that Quincy won by the slimmest of margins. Caden Carroll was outstanding in a complete-game effort for Truman, allowing just two runs, one earned, on four hits over six innings while striking out five. The Bulldogs had chances, loading the bases with hits in the sixth from Oliver Degenhardt, Nick Steurer, and Tyler Tieman but couldn't push across a run. Quincy's Farnaus drove in the deciding run in the fifth and Quinn Schultz stole home to make it 2-0, which proved to be the final. Truman outhit Quincy five to four on the day but couldn't get the timely hit when it mattered.
Game 3: March 7 | L, 1-12
Quincy's offense came alive in the second game of the doubleheader. The Bulldogs got their run in the fifth when Joey Fentress crushed a solo home run to right field. Nick Phillips started and battled through four-plus innings for Truman, striking out five. Fentress continued to be the most consistent offensive presence for Truman throughout the weekend.
Game 4: March 8 | L, 5-26
Quincy jumped on the Bulldogs early and the game got away from Truman quickly Sunday, but there were still some bright spots. Fentress homered twice in the game, a three-run shot to right field in the third inning and a solo home run in the fifth, finishing with four RBI. Evan Davis also chipped in an RBI. Danny Lindsey drew the start on the mound for Truman.
Up Next:
Joey Fentress was the story of the weekend, hitting three home runs across the four games. Nick Steurer provided consistent production throughout the series with extra-base hits and key RBI moments, most notably his eighth-inning double in Game 1 that briefly gave Truman the lead. The Bulldogs now stand at 5-11 on the season and will look to build on the competitive showing in Game 1 and the strong pitching effort from Carroll in Game 2 heading into the rest of their spring schedule. Truman State will travel to St. Joseph to play Missouri Western in a single game on March 10th with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 PM.
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