(JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 21)—The McKendree University baseball team lost a pair of games Saturday in split doubleheader action in Jackson, Miss. The Bearcats were defeated in the first game by Berry College, 9-3, before dropping a 15-5 decision to host Belhaven College, 15-5.

McKendree will take an 0-7 record into its 2009 home opener Wednesday against Greenville College. First pitch at Hypes Field is set for 1 p.m.

In the first game, McKendree trailed 4-0 before rallying with a run in the third inning and two more in the fourth to pull within 4-3. In the third, junior infielder Warren Militello reached second on an error. He scored on an RBI single by senior Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville). Militello added a two-run home run in the fourth to help the Bearcats pull within one.

Berry (7-3) quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the fifth to pull away for the victory. O'Rear finished with two of the Bearcats' five hits in the contest.

Sophomore left-hander Alex Young (Odin, IL/Odin) (Odin, Ill./Odin) was nicked for the loss. Young gave up four runs (one earned) and six hits over two innings.

The Bearcats raced to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two. Junior infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) led off with a walk and stole second base. He scored when junior catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.

Belhaven (12-4) grabbed the lead for good by score three runs in the bottom of the first and a single run in the second for a 4-2 advantage. Davinroy hit a two-run home run in the top of the third to help the Bearcats pull within 4-3. After the Blazers answered with four runs in the bottom of the third for an 8-3 lead, McKendree posted its final runs of the game. Sophomore catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) had an RBI single, while Davinroy brought home the final tally with an RBI groundout.

Davinroy scored twice and drove in three runs, while senior infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) was two-for-two at the plate.

Senior right-hander Joe Ullery (Mt. Vernon, Ill./Webber Township) allowed eight runs over 2 2/3 innings in taking the loss for McKendree.

-McK-