KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Truman State survived a 47-minute rain delay and six Bearcat runs in the 8th to take the opener against McKendree (Ill.), 14-11.
The Bulldogs sent 15 batters to the plate in a nine-run fourth inning grabbing a 10-2 lead based on six walks drawn by the Purple and White.
Oliver Degenhardt and
Quinten Bauman, making just his third start of the season at first base, both knocked three-run doubles in the inning to erase the 2-1 deficit and pull away for the moment.
"It was a gritty, tough day to play, tough way to win, but our guys figured out a way to get it done, " Truman State Head Coach
Dan Davis said. "
Oliver Degenhardt has the good day with the solo shot to give us a little momentum. Overall the guys gave us just enough."
Noah Frailey, working long relief for the second game in a row after starter
Danny Lindsey got bounced due to the rain delay, worked into the eighth surrendering three runs in both the fifth and eighth.
Danny Tovar finished the frame after things got dicey, giving up three to allow McKendree to climb to 13-11, before the freshman righty retired the side on a strikeout after the Bearcats sent twelve to the plate.
Kyle Stratman opened the ninth with a strikeout then allowed the Bearcats to bring the tying run to the plate before a strikeout to end the threat and the game.
"Stratman comes in and closes the door. He always has to give me a little heart palpitation, but he gets it done," Davis said.
Despite giving up three doubles and three homeruns to Bearcat hitters, the Truman State pitching staff minimized the damage allowing just two walks. Lindsey finished a game with zero walks for the second time this season, the first since 4.1 innings of work in a 10-1 loss at Pittsburg State (Kan.) February 9.
Degenhardt hit a solo shot in a two-run seventh to go with his RBI double to finish the day 2-4 with a season-high four runs batted in. Bauman collected four RBI, a season-high, on a 3-4 afternoon scoring two runs, while
Luke Roussel crossed the plate three times, the most for the senior leftfielder since two against William Jewell (Mo.) on March 22.
"Bauman is really the guy," Davis said. "He gets the bases loaded double that scores three runs and really puts the game out of reach early in the game. Quinten's swinging the bat like crazy. He's really good right now and not letting the moment get in the way of his approach."
The victory extends the Bulldog winning streak to four – the first such for the squad since April 30 – May 5, 2023 at home against Illinois Springfield and McKendree – to open the weekend four-game set. A Game 1 win Saturday would give the 'Dogs their longest winning streak wince going 6-0 to open the 2015 campaign.
Truman State goes to 8-20 overall, 5-8 GLVC, while McKendree finishes the day 4-23, 2-11 GLVC. The two face off in a double header Saturday with first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for 1 p.m.
