By Hunter Cookston
The Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) baseball team hosted Bluefield College for a weekend Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series. TWU secured three wins by scores of 12-0, 9-2, and 8-0.
Game one saw the Bulldogs jump out to a 4-0 lead after a grand slam by Cody McGill. TWU did not look back, adding three more runs in the following inning. Thomas Teel also hit a home run in the contest. McGill and Teel combined for nine RBIs, while Reece Jordan and Jonathan Bosque each added an RBI. Justin Jackson threw a complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out nine.
The Bulldogs did not waste any time in game two, scoring two runs in the first inning. After a five-run sixth inning, TWU put the game away. The offense stayed hot, collecting 11 hits. Jordan was a force on the basepaths with four stolen bases. Kolton Reynolds, David Ballenilla, and Brayan Espinoza led the team with two hits each. Cameron Goffar earned the win, pitching six innings with six strikeouts. Isaiah Williams and Bradley Johnson held it down in relief, allowing just one hit over three innings.
Coach Billy Berry’s team was no different in game three, as TWU showed complete dominance and secured its second shutout of the series. Allan Gil Fernandez belted a three-run blast in the sixth inning to put the finishing touches on the win. Reynolds, Ballenilla, Espinoza, and Teel recorded RBIs. McGwire Taylor was dominant on the mound, tossing six innings and striking out five. Carson Clark worked an inning of relief to close out the game for the Bulldogs.
TWU dominated the weekend, outperforming Bluefield in every facet of the game. The Bulldogs will return to action on April 1 at No. 6 University of the Cumberlands before a crucial AAC road series against No. 14 Reinhardt University on Easter weekend.
Photos by Dakota Caldwell
Edited by Dakota Caldwell