(LEBANON, Ill., April 10)—The McKendree College baseball team nearly overcame a six-run deficit, but came up just short in a 9-8 home loss Tuesday to Lindenwood University at Hypes Field.

 

The Bearcats trailed 7-1 after 3 ½ innings of play, but rallied to pull within one run in the seventh inning. McKendree put the tying run at second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Lions worked out of trouble to complete the regular-season sweep of the Bearcats. McKendree drops to 16-18-1 on the year and will return to action Friday with an American Midwest Conference doubleheader at Missouri Baptist University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

 

Sophomore infielder Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) led a 17-hit attack for McKendree with three hits. Junior infielder Todd Harpstrite (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) added two hits and three RBI, while senior outfielder Kenny Weston (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) chipped in with two hits and a pair of runs scored.

 

Chris Bielski had two hits and two RBI to pace Lindenwood (24-13), while Mike Parson drove in two runs.

 

Lindenwood jumped out in front with three runs in the first inning before the Bearcats plated a run in the bottom of the second inning. Weston led off with a single and promptly stole second base. He moved to third on a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Harpstrite to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Lions responded by scoring two runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to built a 7-1 advantage.

 

McKendree erupted for five runs in the fifth inning to pull within 7-6. The Bearcats loaded the bases before Session delivered an RBI single. Weston then drew a bases-loaded walk to trim the Lindenwood lead to 7-3. After sophomore infielder Thomas Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) lifted a sacrifice fly to score the Bearcats’ third run of the inning, Harpstrite provided a two-out, two-run single down the left-field line to close out the scoring in the fifth.

 

After the Lions scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to regain a 9-6 lead, McKendree chipped away at the deficit one more time. Junior Anthony Clervi (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge), on as a pinch-runner after sophomore catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) doubled with two outs, scored on a wild pitch to trim the margin to 9-7 in the sixth. In the seventh inning, Rose led off with a double, and he scored on a bunt single by sophomore infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) to bring the Bearcats within one run.

 

Sophomore right-hander Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) was charged with the loss for McKendree. In three innings, Johnson allowed four earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Johnson slips to 4-2 on the season.