(McKENZIE, Tenn., Feb. 19)—The McKendree College baseball team wrapped up its three-game season-opening series Monday with a doubleheader split at Bethel College. The Bearcats took the opener 4-2 before dropping a high-scoring affair in the nightcap, 14-9.

 

The victory in game one marked the Bearcats’ first win of the 2007 season. McKendree, now 1-2 on the year, will be in Canton, Mo., on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader at Culver-Stockton College. The first game will begin at 1 p.m.

 

In Monday’s first game, senior right-hander Ryan Meyler (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) picked up right where he left off in 2006. Meyler, who went 9-0 with a 1.97 earned-run average a year ago, allowed just two runs on two hits in five innings against Bethel. Meyler walked four and struck out six to collect his 10^th consecutive victory. Junior left-hander Tyler Schwierjohn (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) struck out three in two innings to collect the save for the Bearcats.

 

McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, plating both runs with two outs in the frame. Junior outfielder Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) and sophomore infielder Thomas Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) delivered back-to-back RBI singles to score the runs for the Bearcats.

 

After Bethel tied the contest with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, McKendree grabbed the lead for good in the sixth inning. Once again, the Bearcats scored with two outs in the inning as junior infielder Chris Bellm (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) brought home pinch-runner Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Swansea, Ill./Althoff Catholic) with an RBI single.

 

Junior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) gave the Bearcats an insurance run in the seventh inning with a run-scoring single to bring home Davinroy, who was hit by a pitch to start the frame.

 

Bellm and sophomore catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) each had two hits in the contest for McKendree, while Davinroy scored three times.

 

McKendree built a 6-1 lead in game two, highlighted by three runs in the first inning and two more in the second. Senior first baseman Kevin Wilkins (Kinmundy, Ill./South Central) (Kinmundy, Ill./South Central) provided the big blow in the first with a three-run double. The Bearcats then scored their two runs in the second inning on consecutive batters when Bellm led off with a solo home run, and Davinroy tripled and scored on an error.

 

Davinroy then produced an RBI single in the top of the third inning to extend the Bearcats’ lead to 6-1. However, the Wildcats rallied with five runs in the bottom of the third to even the contest at 6-6. Bethel grabbed an 8-6 lead with two runs in the fourth inning when McKendree took its final lead of the game, 9-8, in the top of the fifth thanks to a three-run home run by senior outfielder Kellen Kettwich (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon).

 

The hosts regained the lead for good with five runs in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the sixth. The two teams combined for 30 hits in the contest, including 19 by Bethel, which moved to 4-2-1 on the season.

 

Davinroy and Kettwich each posted three hits and two runs scored for McKendree, while Wilkins was 2-for-3 in the contest.

 

Junior right-hander Adam Buehne (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) drew the start in the nightcap for McKendree. He allowed four earned runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. Junior righty Tyler Mattmiller (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) was credited with the loss in relief. Six different pitchers were used by the Bearcats.