(OWENSBORO, Ky., MARCH 18) – The McKendree College Bearcats boarded the bus Sunday night happy to head home and happy with their doubleheader sweep of Brescia University, winning game one 5-2 and game two 16-2.

 

The Bearcats would strike first in game one, when left fielder Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) (Bloomington, Ill/Bloomington) would single, steal second, and then steal third one out later to get in position to score off Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud)’s (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) fielders choice to the second baseman, making the score 1-0.

 

McKendree would build on their lead in the fifth inning, when third baseman Nick Kennedy (Bloomington, Ill./University) (Bloomington, Ill./University) would score from second on a triple by Chris Bellm (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland). Bellm would cross the plate off a sacrifice by Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) to make the score 3-0. Melliere would draw a walk and score off a Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) double and a Thomas Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) pinch hit single would score pinch runner Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Swansea, Ill./Althoff Catholic), giving McKendree a 5-0, before Brescia would score two in the bottom of the fifth.

 

Kenny Weston (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo), Rose, and Harrison all had multiple hits for the Bearcats in the game, with Harrison going a perfect 2-2. Pitcher Ryan Meyler (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) picked up the win, his second of the year, throwing seven innings, and giving up only three hits and having nine strikeouts.

 

Game two saw the Bearcats jump out to a quick lead, as they would score five runs in the top of the first. Davinroy would double and then score off an error by the third baseman. A single by Rose would score Melliere and then Schallenberg would come home off an error by the right fielder, making the score 3-0. Third baseman Todd Harpstrite (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) doubled to score both right fielder Weston and Rose to give McKendree a 5-0 lead.

 

After giving up a run in the bottom of the third, McKendree answered with two runs in the top of the fourth, when Melliere would hit a two-run home run. Brescia would chip away at McKendree’s lead again in the bottom of the inning, making the score 7-2.

 

It would be all Bearcats after that though, when a Harrison double in the fifth inning scored Harpstrite to increase their lead to 8-2. The Bearcats broke out in the sixth inning when Melliere doubled and advanced to third on an error by the Brescia shortstop. Weston singled to score Melliere, and one batter later, Rose hit a three-run home run to make the score 11-2. The Bearcats weren’t finished though, as Harrison would score designated hitter Anthony Clervi (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) and a double by Bellm brought in Harrison and Harpstrite, bringing the score to 16-2 McKendree.

 

Melliere led McKendree going 3-4 with two RBI’s and a home run, while Rose was 2-4 with four RBI’s and a home run. Bellm and Harpstrite also had two hits a piece. Picther Tyler Mattmiller (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill/Centralia) improved to 2-2 on the season, throwing five innings while giving up nine hits, two runs and had three strikeouts.

 

The Bearcats (9-11-1) return to the diamond on Tuesday in Carlinville when they play Blackburn College at 2:00 p.m.