(LEBANON, Ill., March 22)—Runs came early and often as the McKendree University baseball team posted a 17-13 victory Sunday at home against Lindenwood University.
The Bearcats pounded out 18 hits and needed three insurance runs in the eighth inning to hold off Lindenwood, the No. 22-ranked team in the latest NAIA coaches' poll. McKendree won its 13th consecutive game to improve to 13-11 overall. The Bearcats will open up American Midwest Conference play with a doubleheader Friday at Missouri Baptist University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Four different McKendree players had at least three hits in the contest. Junior Kory Peppenhorst (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) had three hits with four RBI, while junior catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) registered three hits and three runs batted in. Senior infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) and junior outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) each chipped in a trio of safeties for the Bearcats.
McKendree jumped out to a 13-1 lead thanks to six runs in the second inning and seven more in the third. Sophomore outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) and Peppenhorst each belted a three-run home run in the second inning to stake the Bearcats to a 6-0 lead. After Lindenwood (14-3) put up a run in the top of the third inning, McKendree answered with seven runs in the bottom of the frame. The Bearcats loaded the bases with one out when junior infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) hit a grand slam home run to boost the lead to 10-1.
Meyer, Peppenhorst and senior outfielder Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) each added run-scoring hits in the inning to give the Bearcats a 12-run advantage.
Lindenwood fought back with five runs in the top of the fourth to pull within 13-6. McKendree again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, and O'Rear forced home a run when he was hit by a pitch to build the lead back to 14-6. The Lions then plated four runs in the sixth inning to edge closer at 14-10, then added two runs in the seventh inning and a solo run in the top of the eighth to cut the Bearcats' lead to one run.
Dickman gave the Bearcats some breathing room in the bottom of the eighth when he blasted a three-run home run to account for the final margin. Junior Mark Chapman (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) faced four batters to nail down the win for McKendree.
Sophomore right-hander Dakota Schutt (Waterloo, IL/Gibault) (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault) was the third of five McKendree pitchers and was credited with the victory. He allowed three runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings of work with a walk and three strikeouts.
-McK-
