(LEBANON, Ill., April 23)—The McKendree University baseball team took one of two games Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Lindenwood University. The Bearcats rallied for an 8-4 victory in the opener before dropping game to by a 5-4 count.
McKendree moves to 24-19 on the year. The game one victory enabled the Bearcats to stretch their winning streak to seven games before falling in the nightcap. McKendree will be on the road Wednesday for a contest at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
In game one, junior Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) tossed his seventh complete game of the season to lead McKendree to the victory. Johnson scattered eight hits over the seven innings with one walk and four strikeouts to boost his record to 7-1 on the year. Johnson finished the game with a flourish, fanning the final three batters to close out the win.
The Bearcats took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, thanks to a pair of errors and an RBI single by senior outfielder Brandon Melliere (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud) (Red Bud, Ill./Red Bud). Lindenwood 31-20) responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead.
McKendree rallied with four runs in the top of the fifth to grab the lead for good, 7-4. Sophomore outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI double just ahead of a sacrifice fly from senior outfielder Anthony Clervi (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge). Senior Jon Keener (Murphysboro, Ill./Murphysboro) provided the key blow in the frame with a pinch-hit, two-run double that capped the scoring. The Bearcats added an unearned run in the sixth inning.
Meyer finished with two hits, while junior first baseman Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./DuBois) had the Bearcats' other extra-base hit in game one, a triple that led to McKendree's final run of the contest.
The host Lions raced to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added two more runs in the third for a 5-0 advantage. McKendree looked to rally, starting with a single run in the fifth inning. Junior catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) led off with a walk. The Bearcats eventually loaded the bases with one out before senior infielder Chris Bellm (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to put McKendree on the scoreboard.
After the Bearcats scored two more runs in the sixth inning to pull within 5-3, Bellm led off the seventh inning with a solo home run. O'Rear singled with two outs and stole second base, but McKendree stranded the potential tying run in scoring position. O'Rear had three of the Bearcats' six hits in game two.
-McK-
