BARBOURVILLE — The Union College baseball team collected an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader split with visiting Truett McConnell University to open up the weekend series. The Bulldogs took game one 8-2 before taking an 8-0 loss to the Bears in game two.

With the split, Union moves to 16-10 overall and 6-5 in conference play, while Truett McConnell advances to 15-9 on the year and 9-2 in the AAC.

GAME ONE – UNION 8, TRUETT MCCONNELL 2

Both teams got the ball rolling early scoring a run in the first inning, but Union’s bats came alive during the second inning, scoring five runs to break the tie and take a 6-1 lead. The runs came from back-to-back singles from Dallas Green, Joe Gaines and a double from Luke Reinert.

The Bears scored with a sac fly to cut the margin down to 6-2. In the bottom of the fifth, LoLo Williams lined an RBI single to make it 7-2, and a fielder’s choice scored the final run of the game to seal the 8-2 victory.

BULLDOG NOTES

Starting pitcher Daniel Neal collected his third win of the year. He allowed five hits, two runs while striking out two batters.

Reliever Nicko Cottone came in and pitched four innings and earned the save, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out three.

Offensively, the Bulldogs were led by Nick Shumaker, who went 3-for-5 from the plate scoring one RBI.

GAME TWO – TRUETT MCCONNELL 8, UNION 0

The Bulldogs couldn’t keep the momentum from game one, as they didn’t get a hit on the board until the bottom of the third after Green singled to shallow right field. The Bears struck early taking a 3-0 lead after the second and added five insurance runs in the fourth.

The final hit of the game for the Bulldogs came from Sinjin Shoop in the bottom of the fifth, but the damage was already done as Truett McConnel took game two 8-0.