(LEBANON, Ill., March 23)—The McKendree University baseball team wrapped up a busy weekend with a non-conference doubleheader split Sunday at home against Indiana Institute of Technology. The Bearcats were shut out in game one, 7-0, before bouncing back to take the nightcap, 7-4.

McKendree will take a 9-12 overall record into Friday's American Midwest Conference opener against William Woods University. The Bearcats will host the Owls for a four-game series, beginning with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m.

In game one on Sunday, the Bearcats were held in check offensively by Indiana Tech starting pitcher Jeremy Shanks. He tossed a one-hitter against McKendree, allowing only a second-inning single to senior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud). Shanks struck out four in the contest.

The Warriors scratched out single runs in the first and third innings before breaking the game open with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Senior right-hander Adam Buehne (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) was charged with the loss for McKendree. Buehne pitched five innings and allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap, thanks to a pair of solo home runs by Melliere and freshman first baseman Brad Dunnigan (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg). Indiana Tech rallied with two runs in the fourth inning and one more in the top of the fifth to grab a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Bearcats took control by scoring five runs against the Warriors. The rally started with one out when sophomore infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) drew a walk and senior infielder Todd Harpstrite (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) followed with a single. Junior first baseman Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) delivered an RBI single to score Davinroy and tie the contest at 3-3. Harpstrite and O'Rear scored on an error to push McKendree back in front, 5-3.

Dunnigan capped the offensive outburst with a two-run single that gave McKendree a 7-3 lead. The Bearcats then held on to gain the doubleheader split.

Melliere and Dunnigan each had two hits in the game to lead McKendree. Sophomore Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) earned the victory on the mound for the Bearcats. Meyer pitched five innings and scattered seven its with one walk and two strikeouts. Senior Tyler Mattmiller (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) tossed the final two innings to preserve the win for the Bearcats.

-McK-