Pioneers Score Two in Eighth to Take Series Opener Over Truett McConnell, 7-5

Spartanburg Methodist College plated two runs to break a 5–5 tie in the eighth inning on its way to a 7–5 win over Truett McConnell in the series opener between the two teams on Friday.

SMC (11-12, 4-6 AAC) earlier erased a 1–0 deficit when it scored three runs in the third inning to take its first lead of the day.

TMU (7-16, 0-10 AAC) worked its way back into the game with a run in the sixth and tied it at five with a two-RBI double by Donovan Parker in the seventh.

The Pioneers spread 11 hits among seven players with two hits apiece from Blake Exizian and Tanner Martin. Six different players had an RBI in the win. Scout Gilfillan pitched two innings of relief to even his record at 1-1, and Peyton Gardner pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.

The Bears had eight hits with two from David Walters, while Parker had three RBIs in the loss.

With the game tied at five in the bottom of the eighth, Jarian Pinckney reached on an infield single with one out. Ty Harper then put runners on first and second with a single up the middle. Next, pinch hitter Chas Welch singled to score a hustling Pinckney from second for the go-ahead run. A ball hit by Matt Smith was then misplayed by the visitors, allowing Harper to score.

In the ninth, a one-out walk to Walters brought the tying run to the plate before Gardner induced a ground ball for a 5-4-3 double play to end the contest.

Next, SMC will host the Bears in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mooneyham Field.