(LEBANON, Ill., March 7)—The McKendree University baseball extended its win streak to six games with an 8-3 non-conference victory Saturday at home against Central Christian College.

Senior outfielder Chad Ohnesorge (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run and double, while senior outfielder Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) also had three hits to lead the way for the Bearcats. McKendree improves to 6-7 on the year and will hit the road for a three-game swing beginning on Monday with a non-conference game at Lambuth University.

Senior right-hander Joey Ullery (Mt. Vernon, Ill./Webber Township) (Mt. Vernon, Ill./Webber Township) pitched six innings of shutout baseball to earn the win on the mound for McKendree. Ullery gave up just four hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

McKendree grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a leadoff triple by O'Rear and a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland). The duo of O'Rear and Dickman combined for the Bearcats' next run in the third inning as O'Rear led off the frame with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by Dickman.

Ohnesorge blasted a solo home run during a two-run sixth inning to extend the Bearcats' lead to 4-0. Central Christian (3-12) struck for three runs in the top of the seventh to pull within 4-3. McKendree answered with an insurance run in the bottom of the frame to regain a 5-3 advantage. O'Rear had yet another leadoff hit as he singled to center field. He stole second base and scored on a two-out RBI single by junior Kory Peppenhorst (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle).

The Bearcats put the game away with three runs in the eighth inning. Senior infielder Tom Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) belted a two-out, pinch-hit home run while junior infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) added a sacrifice fly.  

-McK-