KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – A near perfect game in game one followed by an offensive outburst in game two brought about Truman baseball’s first MIAA series win since April 2006, as the Bulldogs swept Southwest Baptist, 2-1 and 9-5, in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at the Truman Baseball Park.
The Bulldogs (4-19, 3-9 MIAA) took three out of four games against the visiting Bearcats (7-12, 5-5 MIAA), marking the first series win under the direction of head coach Dan Davis. Truman’s last MIAA series win came on April 21-22, 2006 – also against SBU.
Sophomore Michael Staihr (1-0) took the ball as a starter for the first time this year in game one and put on a dazzling performance. Staihr needed just 74 pitches to get through the seven inning game and carried a perfect game into the seventh inning.
With the Bulldogs leading 2-0 entering the seventh, Staihr retired the first two hitters of the inning and built up a two-strike count on SBU’s Kyle Wise. However, Staihr’s lone mistake of the day was capitalized on by Wise, as the Bearcat center fielder took the 0-2 offering over the left-center field wall to cut the Truman lead to 2-1. After the next hitter reached on an error, Justin Crumpley struck out swinging to complete the one-run Bulldog win.
Staihr struck out two and gave up just the lone hit, while the Bulldogs mustered enough offense to pick up the win. Truman had just three hits, but scored on a balk in the third and added an RBI groundout by junior Keaton Jones in the fifth.
In game two, SBU jumped ahead in the first inning with a single run before Truman got on the board in the fourth. After picking up back-to-back walks with one out, sophomore Drew Garwood singled to load the bases. The Bulldogs scored on a wild pitch, then got two more runs on a key RBI single to right-center by second baseman Luke Crader to take a 3-1 advantage.
After SBU cut the lead to 3-2 in their half of the fifth, Truman tacked on four in return by taking advantage of a Bearcat error. With two outs and nobody on, Jones walked in front of sophomore Kevin Zukaitis, who reached on an error by the shortstop. Following a Steven Rose walk, Garwood blasted a 1-0 pitch into the right-field corner to clear the bases and pick up a double. Garwood then moved to third on a mishandled pickoff attempt, then stole home after Logan Frame reached and stole second.
Each team added runs late and SBU threatened in the ninth, but junior Jake Smith picked up his first save of the season by inducing a game-ending double play ball.
Freshman Ryan Trimble (1-3) started and lasted six innings while giving up eight hits, four runs and striking out three. Zukaitis filled the middle relief role by pitching two innings and moved into the ninth before Smith closed the game out.
Garwood finished with three RBI and a pair of hits, and Kenny Swanson set the table with a pair of hits of his own. Neither Zukaitis nor Rose recorded a hit in game two, but each came around to score twice.
Truman will host Upper Iowa University in a single, nine-inning game on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 pm.
Courtesy: Truman State University
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