KIRKSVILLE, Mo. --- The Parkside Rangers baseball team hit the road on Sunday afternoon, taking on the Truman State Bulldogs in two seven inning contests. Truman used a four-run sixth inning to down the Rangers 6-1 in game one. Parkside then held the lead late in game two, but the Bulldogs were able to score three in the bottom of the seventh to take game two 9-8.
 
GAME ONE
Truman struck first in the opening game of the day under overcast skies. With two outs a Bulldog single up the middle, scoring an unearned run. The Rangers answered back in the top of the third. Noah Tyrrell led off with a single to left center. He then advanced to second on a failed pickoff by the Truman pitcher. One out later Jared Heinzen drove a 1-0 pitch into left field, scoring the tying run.
 
The Bulldogs took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring an unearned run with two outs. Truman then opened the game up in the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits and two Parkside errors to take a 6-1 lead. Parkside went quickly in the bottom of the seventh, falling in game one 6-1.
 
Harris led the offense with two hits. Noah Gerritson worked five innings on the mound, only allowing two earned runs on five hits.
 
GAME TWO
Parkside struck first in the top of the second. A walk opened up the inning, then Andrew Harris and Matt Felske singled to load the bases. Ryan Brouch then drew a four pitch walk to plate the game's opening run. The Rangers kept the scoring going, making it 3-0 on a single up the middle by Bryce Inman.
 
The Rangers weren't done yet, scoring runs on a single by Jared Heinzen, a sac fly by Daniel Llanas, and a passed ball, extending the lead to 6-0.
 
Truman got two runs back in the bottom half of the second and three runs on four hits in the fourth to pull back within 6-5. The Bulldogs then tied the game on a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Parkside grabbed the lead back in the top of the sixth, scoring a run on another sac fly from Llanas. The Rangers then added another run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Angel Rades.
 
Truman was able to rally on the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh, plating three runs on two hits to down Parkside 9-8.
 
Michael Zordani worked an inning and a third of scoreless relief, not allowing a hit. Rades, Heinzen, Harris, and Ryan Brouch all had multi-hit efforts in game two.  
 
UP NEXT
The Rangers are scheduled to host their home opener on Friday afternoon against Rockford University, but fans are encouraged to check ParksideRangers.com for any weather-related updates.