(LEBANON, Ill., March 5)—The McKendree College baseball team earned a doubleheader split on Sunday at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. The Bearcats rallied for 6-2 win in the opener before being edged in the nightcap, 3-2.

 

The split gives McKendree an overall record of 2-4 on the season. The Bearcats will be at Avila University Monday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

 

In Sunday’s first game, McKendree trailed 2-0 heading into the fifth inning. The Bearcats cut the deficit in half when freshman infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Swansea, Ill./Althoff Catholic) singled and scored on an RBI single by junior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud). McKendree then exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to grab the lead for good. Sophomore infielder Thomas Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) tied the game with an RBI groundout, and Davinroy followed with a tie-breaking RBI single.

 

The Bearcats then loaded the bases when Melliere provided another run-scoring single and sophomore catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) followed with a sacrifice fly to give McKendree a 5-2 lead. Senior first baseman Kevin Wilkins (Kinmundy, Ill./South Central) (Kinmundy, Ill./South Central) wrapped up the scoring in the frame with an RBI single.

 

Davinroy finished the contest with three hits, while Melliere and senior outfielder Kellen Kettwich (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) each chipped in with two hits.

 

Sophomore right-hander Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) notched his first victory of the season for McKendree. Johnson tossed a complete-game five-hitter with one walk and seven strikeouts.

 

Just like game one, McKendree played from behind in the second contest. The Bearcats trailed 2-0 when they scratched out a run in the top of the third inning. Junior outfielder Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) doubled off the third-base bag, and he came around to score on a single by sophomore infielder Brandon Holtmann (New Baden, Ill./Breese Central) (Albers, Ill./Breese Central).

 

Baker (5-3) stretched the lead back to 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the third when McKendree edged back in the fourth inning. Sophomore catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) reached on a single. Dickman followed with a single, and Harrison singled to bring home sophomore Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland), who was running for Session.

 

Junior right-hander Adam Buehne (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) was charged with the loss for the Bearcats. In five innings of work, Buehne scattered six hits with one walk and two strikeouts.