(KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 5)—The McKendree College baseball lost one and tied another in a non-conference doubleheader Monday at Avila University. The Bearcats dropped a 4-3 decision in extra innings in game one before the teams battled to a 4-4 tie in the nightcap.

 

McKendree moves to 2-5-1 on the year and will return to play Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader at Missouri Valley College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

 

In game one, McKendree took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Junior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) led off with a single and promptly stole second base. He eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Brandon Holtmann (New Baden, Ill./Breese Central) (Albers, Ill./Breese Central).

 

The host Eagles tied the game in the third inning and took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Bearcats forced extra innings with two runs in the seventh inning. McKendree loaded the bases before Melliere scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3-2. With two outs in the inning, sophomore infielder Thomas Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) delivered a pinch-hit single to tie the contest.

 

Avila scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning when Willie Keene provided a sacrifice fly to score Jose Acevedo, who led off with a double.

 

Junior right-hander Tyler Mattmiller (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia), who was in his third inning of relief, was charged with the loss. He allowed two hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. Senior righty Ryan Meyler (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) pitched the first 5 2/3 innings for McKendree, giving up four hits and three earned runs with three walks and eight strikeouts.

 

Sophomore catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) had three of the Bearcats’ five hits in the first game.

 

McKendree scored four times in the second inning of game two. Melliere started the scoring with an RBI triple to bring home Dickman, who led off the frame with a single. Junior outfielder Mike Harrison (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) made it 2-0 with a run-scoring groundout. Freshman infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Swansea, Ill./Althoff Catholic) added an RBI single, and senior outfielder Kellen Kettwich (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) provided an RBI double to close out the scoring.

 

Avila rallied late in the contest, scoring two runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game. However, the game was called after the seventh inning due to darkness.

 

Junior left-hander Tyler Schwierjohn (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) pitched the first six innings for McKendree, scattering seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Junior right-hander Jonathon Keener (Murphysboro, Ill./Murphysboro) (Murphysboro, Ill./Murphysboro) tossed the seventh inning for the Bearcats.