The Truett-McConnell Bears are 27 games into their 2016 slate, and are sitting pretty at 18-9 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
The Bears are perhaps peaking at the right time, six of their last seven ball games after Thursday night’s 8-6 win against Montreat College. TMC has defended the home field fairly well, going 10-6, but have been equally impressive, or more so, on the road, going 8-3 away from the friendly confines.
What makes the 18-9 record even more impressive is knowing that the Bears began the season 0-5, meaning they’ve now won 18 of their last 22 games. Since their 17-7 loss to Southern Wesleyan University, Truett-McConnell has turned a complete 180 on the season. In the 0-5 start, the Bears were outscored 51-18. Since then, they have not allowed more than seven runs in a game. Their hot stretch has included wins as decisive as 18-1 or 1-0, such as they had back-t0-back against Hiawassee College in late February.
Going 7-0 in games decided by one run has definitely helped the Bears in their turnaround. The long ball has also played a role, as the Truett-McConnell offense has combined for 16 homeruns on the season to date, along with an extremely high amount of doubles (45). Junior infielder Chris Carden has provided much of the thump, as he leads the Bears in at-bats, hits, average, runs scored, doubles and even stolen bases.
Carden is batting .340 with 15 doubles, three homers and 14 RBI. Freshman Patrick Overstreet has also been pivotal to the success in the lineup, hitting .284 with six round-trippers and 23 RBI, both team highs.
Junior pitcher Luke Henderson has led the way among the rotation, racking up four wins on the mound with a 3.50 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Freshman Caleb Jameson, pitching primarily in relief, has also earned four wins and a save. Carden, who’s offense is so valuable, has been the staple at the back end of the bullpen as well. The closer has notched five of the team’s nine saves so far, striking out 22 in just over 19 innings of work.
About halfway through the schedule, head coach Mike Croley and the Bears know they have plenty of work left to do. Truett-McConnell still has 14 games left on the road this season, including the next six in a row. MORE TMC SPORTS.
