(JACKSON, Tenn., Feb. 13)—In a game that featured 31 runs and 32 hits, the McKendree University baseball team was defeated Friday in its 2009 season opener at Union University, 16-15.

The Bearcats scored five runs in the top of the ninth to tie the contest at 15-15, but the host Bulldogs pushed across the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to pull out the victory. McKendree, which has dropped its last three season-opening contests, slips to 0-1 on the year, while Union remains perfect at 4-0. The teams will close out a three-game weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

Junior infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) and senior first baseman Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) each had three hits in the Bearcats' 16-hit attack. Each drove in two runs, while O'Rear scored three times. Junior catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) added two hits, including a two-run home run, and senior outfielder Chad Ohnesorge (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) collected a pair of doubles. Junior outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) chipped in with two hits for McKendree.

Union grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning before McKendree erupted for four runs in the top of the third inning. Sophomore outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) led off the frame with a double. Two batters later, Davinroy delivered an RBI single to knot the score at 1-1. O'Rear followed with a run-scoring triple, and Dickman capped the outburst with a two-run homer to left field.

After the Bulldogs scored twice in the bottom of the third to pull within 4-3, McKendree scratched out a run in the fourth. Meyer led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. With two outs, senior infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) brought Meyer home with an RBI single to extend the Bearcats' margin back to 5-3. Union countered with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to even the score at 5-5.

McKendree scored three runs in the top of the fifth to surge back in front, 8-5. O'Rear doubled and Dickman was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Junior Kory Peppenhorst (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) broke the deadlock with a sacrifice fly to center field. Meyer produced a run-scoring single, and Ohnesorge came up as a pinch-hitter and doubled Meyer home to complete the frame.

A wild pitch in the sixth inning brought home the Bearcats' ninth run, and Davinroy added an RBI single in the seventh as McKendree was able to maintain its lead. The Bearcats held a 10-7 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. But Union sent 12 men to the plate in the frame and scored eight times to regain the lead at 15-10. The Bulldogs had just two hits in the inning, but took advantage of three McKendree errors, three hit batsmen and a trio of walks by the Bearcats' pitching staff.

In the top of the ninth, senior infielder Tom Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) started the Bearcats' five-run rally as he was hit by a pitch. Meyer walked and, following a Union pitching change, Ohnesorge ripped an RBI double to score Rose and cut the deficit to 15-11. Two batters later, junior infielder Warren Militello (Flora, Ill./Flora) came up as a pinch-hitter and delivered a two-run double to bring the Bearcats within 15-13.

With two outs, O'Rear brought Militello around to score on an RBI single to trim the margin to 15-14. A single by Dickman moved O'Rear to second base. Facing a full count, Peppenhorst collected his first hit of the day, an RBI single, to score O'Rear and tie the contest at 15-15.

However, the Bulldogs quickly ended the contest thanks to a walk, a pair of singles and a walk to force home the winning run.

Senior right-hander Cale Johnson (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) pitched the first six innings for McKendree. He scattered nine hits with four earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts. Junior right-hander Mark Chapman (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) worked a third of an inning was charged with the loss.

-McK-