(LEBANON, Ill., April 11)—The McKendree University baseball team split a doubleheader Friday at Harris-Stowe State University. The Bearcats overcame a seven-run deficit in the first inning to post a 16-12 victory in game one before a second rally came up short in a 6-5 loss in the nightcap.
McKendree moves to 15-16 on the year and 6-4 in the American Midwest Conference. The Bearcats and Hornets will complete their four-game AMC series Saturday in St. Louis with another doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on the Harris-Stowe campus.
In game one, Harris-Stowe raced to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as six of the runs were unearned. McKendree began its comeback with a pair of runs in the second inning. Junior catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) led off with a walk. Senior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) stepped up next and drilled a two-run home run to bring the Bearcats within 7-2.
Harris-Stowe (9-24, 2-8 AMC) added a run in the third inning to extend its lead to 8-2. The Bearcats responded with five runs in the fourth inning to pull within 8-7. Junior first baseman Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) led off the frame with a solo home run. McKendree then loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batsman before freshman outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) ripped a grand slam home run to help pull the Bearcats within a single run.
McKendree took a 9-8 lead with two more runs in the top of the fifth inning as Session led off with a walk and Melliere hit his second two-run homer of the contest. Harris-Stowe tied the game at 9-9 with a single run in the bottom of the fifth.
An RBI single by O'Rear ignited a seven-run seventh inning that put McKendree in front to stay. Session and Melliere followed O'Rear's hit with back-to-back RBI doubles to push the Bearcats' lead to 12-9. Later in the frame, junior infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) and sophomore infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) each added two-run doubles to wrap up the scoring for McKendree.
The Bearcats then survived a late rally from Harris-Stowe. The Hornets plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and loaded the bases before senior Jacob Flick (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) struck out the final batter to preserve the win.
Melliere had three hits, four runs scored and five RBI to lead the offensive attack for McKendree. O'Rear had two hits and two RBI as well.
Junior Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) bounced back from a tough first inning to pitch the first five innings for the Bearcats. Johnson allowed nine runs (one earned) with a walk and two strikeouts. Senior Tyler Mattmiller (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) tossed the sixth inning to earn the win.
In the nightcap, Harris-Stowe started strong once again with three runs in each of the first two innings. McKendree had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by O'Rear. After the Hornets' three-run first inning, the Bearcats pulled within 3-2 in the top of the second thanks to an RBI single by Davinroy. Harris-Stowe then plated three more runs to build its advantage to 6-2.
Freshman catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) hit his first career home run in the fourth inning to bring the Bearcats within 6-3. McKendree then scored two more runs in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 6-5. With two outs, Session drew a walk and Melliere singled. Junior infielder Tom Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) stepped up next and delivered a two-run triple.
However, the Hornets were able to record the final four outs and hold on for the win. Melliere and Moll each had two hits for McKendree.
Junior Rusty Parke (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) scattered nine hits over six innings in taking the loss for the Bearcats. Park did not walk a batter and struck out one.
-McK-
