ONU Athletics
Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The Olivet Nazarene University baseball team closed out its four-game series at Truett McConnell University falling in game one, 5-3, before dropping an 10-8 decision in the second game. This doubleheader was played at the TMU Baseball Complex on Friday afternoon.
Game One: Truett McConnell 5, Olivet Nazarene 3
The Tigers opened the scoring in the first inning. Terry Daniels (SR/Auburn, N.Y.) led off the inning reaching base on an error and stole second. With one out, Jacob Bulthuis (SR/Tinley Park, Ill.) singled home Daniels making the score 1-0, Tigers. The Bears evened the game in the bottom of the first scoring on a wild pitch making the score 1-1. After the Bears took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, Nathan Moonen (SR/Fort Wayne, Ind.) smacked a home run to deep left field to open the top of the fifth to cut the Bear lead to 3-2. The Bears then extended their lead on a home run in the bottom of the fifth and an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth making the score 5-2.
The Tigers added another run in the seventh inning on a deep home run by Daniels, but it was too little too late as the Bears take game one, 5-3.
Game Two: Truett McConnell 10, Olivet Nazarene 8
The Tigers struck first in the first inning. Daniels led off the first inning with his second home run of the day giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. The Bears then came back in the bottom half of the inning and scored six runs making the score 6-1, Bears. The Tigers get one run back in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Daniels drove home Moonen on a sacrifice fly. Truett McConnell added to its lead in the bottom half of the inning marking three more runs to pull ahead 9-2.
At the top of the third, the Tigers get one run back when Moonen scored Bulthius on an RBI groundout. In the fourth inning, ONU closed the gap a bit more. Jordan Almodover (JR/Deltona, Fla.) led off with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Gunnar Pullins (JR/Valparaiso, Ind.). After Pullins made it to third on two wild pitches and Kai Hudson (SO/St. Petersburg, Fla.) walked, Daniels grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Pullins. After a groundout that moved Hudson to third, Hudson scored on a wild pitch. The Tigers got within four at 9-5.
After the Bears extended their lead to 10-5, the Tigers attempted a comeback in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Daniels singled and later stole second. After Alex Ortiz (FR/Ponte Vendra Beach, Fla.) walked putting runners on first and second, Bulthuis singled home Daniels. With two outs, Jordan Veldman (SO/Mahomet, Ill.) walked, which loaded the bases for Moonen. Moonen then singled home Ortiz and Bulthuis. The Tigers still trailed 10-8.
The Tigers had the tying run on first base in the top of the seventh but could not capitalize and was edged by the Bears 10-8.
The Tigers travel to McKenzie, Tenn. to face Bethel University in a three-game series starting on Friday, February 19. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST.