JACKSON, Tenn. - 4/28/2011 - The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ (Tenn.) University baseball team split a double-header versus No. 24 Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University on Thursday to open the final conference series of the regular season. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ took the first game 7-3 and then fell in the second game 5-1. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll, is now 34-13 on the season and 16-7 in the TranSouth. Trevecca is now 33-20 overall and 17-6 In league play.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ needs to take two-of-three from Trevecca in this series in order to earn a second place finish in the regular season standings and earn a No. 2 seed in next week’s conference tournament. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will finish second with a win, but a loss will put the Bulldogs in third or possibly fourth place, depending on the results of Martin Methodist (Tenn.).
Game one of the double-header at Fesmire Field had the Bulldogs striking first with a pair of runs in the first inning. Cole McAdams and Bryan Hill each recorded RBI singles to start the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ scoring. However, the Trojans of Trevecca responded with three runs in top of the third to take a brief lead. Two of the Trojan runs came on a Chad Reynolds double to right field.
In the bottom of the third, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ exploded for five runs to regain the lead for good. McAdams hit a 2-RBI double followed by an RBI single from Kevin Kirksey. Kian Jost then hit a 2-run home run to left field, putting Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ up 7-3. After the third inning, each team managed just one hit each over the final four innings of play.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s Jeremey Stack improved to 9-2 on the season with a complete game, five hit effort. He allowed the three run with one strikeout. Trevecca starter Craig Stem (8-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on three hits with two walks in 2.1 innings of work. BJ Boston tossed 3.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was led by McAdams with two hits and three RBI in the game.
The second game was dominated early by the pitching of Trevecca starter PJ Francescon who improved to 6-1 on the season. Francescon had a no-hit effort going in when Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s Jost singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ scored their lone run in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Hill. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ managed just four hits and one run on Francescon, who struck out seven Bulldog hitters. Trevecca scored runs in the first, second and sixth innings to provide plenty of support for Francescon. The Trojans were led by Mitch McClay, Matt Owens and Michael with three hits each. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ starter Jared Davis (8-2) lost for just the second time all season, allowing five runs in six innings of work with two strikeouts and 10 hits. Benjie Fesmire tossed one inning of scoreless relief, allowing one hit and walking two.
The two team will close out the regular season on Friday at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ with a game at 1:00 p.m. It will be senior day for the Bulldogs. The TranSouth Conference Tournament will be played at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s Fesmire Field, starting Monday, May 2 and going through May 5.
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