(LEBANON, Ill., April 21)—Sophomore Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) stole the spotlight on Senior Day at Hypes Field.

 

Johnson threw his second career no-hitter as the Bearcat baseball team took game one of a doubleheader against Harris-Stowe State University, 7-0. Johnson walked three and struck out five in a 93-pitch effort against the Hornets. His first no-hitter came during his freshman season, when he shut down Brescia University, 10-0, on March 26, 2006.

 

Harris-Stowe bounced back to hold off McKendree in Saturday’s nightcap, 9-8. The split gives the Bearcats an overall record of 21-21-1 and an 8-8 mark in American Midwest Conference play. McKendree will face Greenville College Tuesday at Highland’s Glik Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Harris-Stowe is now 20-21 on the year and 8-8 in the conference.

 

McKendree jumped out in front in game one with four runs in the first inning. Junior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) started the scoring with an RBI double to bring home junior infielder Todd Harpstrite (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin), who led off the inning with a single. Sophomore catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) singled to put runners at first and third base.

 

Sophomore infielder Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia), who had three hits in game one, then provided a two-run triple to give the Bearcats a 3-0 lead. Sophomore Thomas Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Session for the final run of the inning.

 

 In the second inning, sophomore infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) drilled a solo home run, while Melliere delivered an RBI single to extend the McKendree lead to 6-0. The Bearcats scored their final run of the contest in the fifth inning, when junior outfielder Anthony Clervi (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) brought home Session with an RBI single.

 

Harpstrite also had three hits in the contest, while Melliere and Dickman each collected a pair of hits in the effort.

 

Harris-Stowe jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two before McKendree cut into the deficit. Freshman infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Swansea, Ill./Althoff Catholic) drilled a run-scoring double down the right-field line to help the Bearcats pull within 2-1. After the Hornets tacked on two more runs to build a three-run lead, McKendree struck for two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Kevin Wilkins (Kinmundy, Ill./South Central) (Kinmundy, Ill./South Central) belted a two-run double off the center-field fence to bring McKendree within 4-3.

 

The Bearcats eventually tied the game in the fifth inning at 4-4 thanks to a run-scoring single by senior outfielder Kenny Weston (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo). However, Harris-Stowe scored three times in the sixth inning and twice in the top of the seventh inning to regain a 9-4 advantage.

 

McKendree rallied one more time, scoring four runs to cut the deficit to 9-8. The Bearcats loaded the bases with nobody out before Wilkins posted an RBI single. Two batters later, Schallenberg ripped a single to left field that scored one run, and when the ball skipped past the Hornets’ left fielder, two more runs came in to bring the Bearcats within one run.

 

McKendree got the tying run to third base, but could not cash in as the Hornets held on for the victory. The Bearcats took three of the four games in the AMC weekend series with Harris-Stowe.

 

Junior right-hander Adam Buehne (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) was charged with the loss. He scattered nine hits over 5 1/3 innings with one walk and six strikeouts.