(JACKSON, Tenn., Feb. 14)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader Saturday at Union University. The host Bulldogs rallied for a 9-4 win in the opener before rolling to a 7-1 victory in the nightcap.

McKendree now sits at 0-3 overall. The Bearcats will be on the road Friday for a split doubleheader in Jackson, Miss. The Bearcats will meet Berry College in a neutral-site matchup at 1 p.m., before facing host Belhaven College in the final game of the day at 4 p.m.

In Saturday's first game McKendree trailed 2-0 before scoring all four of its runs in the top of the second inning to grab a 4-2 advantage. All four runs were unearned as the Bearcats staged a two-out rally. Junior infielder Warren Militello (Flora, Ill./Flora) started the outburst when he reached on an error. Senior infielder Tom Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) reached on a walk before junior outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) brought Militello home with an RBI single.

After a walk to junior outfielder Shane McBride (Troy, Ill./Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad), junior infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) stepped up next and ripped a two-run single to push McKendree in front, 3-2. McBride later scored on an error to cap the rally for McKendree.

The lead was short-lived as Union answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning to regain a 5-4 lead. The Bulldogs added one run in the third, two more in the fourth inning and an insurance run in the fifth to pull away for the victory.

Six different McKendree players collected one hit each in the contest, all singles. Junior right-hander Nolan Martz (East Alton, IL/Roxana) (East Alton, Ill./Roxana) was nicked for the loss, giving up seven earned runs over four innings with five walks and six strikeouts.

In game two, Union built a 6-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and four more in the fifth inning. McKendree scored its lone run in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Kory Peppenhorst (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) belted a one-out double and advanced to third on a single by Meyer. Senior catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center field to score Peppenhorst.

Just like game one, McKendree collected six hits in the nightcap. Peppenhorst was 2-for-2 at the plate with a double.

Sophomore left-hander Alex Young (Odin, IL/Odin) (Odin, Ill./Odin) pitched into the fifth inning for McKendree. In 4 2/3 innings of work, Young scattered nine hits with three earned runs, one walk and one strikeout.

-McK-