(McKENZIE, Tenn., April 15)—The McKendree University baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn. The Bearcats suffered an 11-1 defeat in game one before rebounding with a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
Wednesday's split leaves McKendree with an overall record of 25-16-1. The Bearcats will host Hannibal-LaGrange College in an American Midwest Conference series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Junior outfielder Shane McBride (Troy, Ill./Triad) (Troy, Ill./Triad) had four hits on the day along and drove in three runs in game two. Junior infielder Kory Peppenhorst (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) (Carlyle, Ill./Carlyle) chipped in with three hits for the Bearcats.
In game one, Bethel (13-21) built a 3-0 lead before McKendree scratched out its only run of the contest in the top of the third inning. McBride led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. After senior infielder Dusty Schallenberg (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) (New Douglas, Ill./Highland) singled to put runners at first and third, Peppenhorst singled McBride home to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 3-1.
The host Wildcats then put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the fifth inning.
Junior left-hander Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) allowed two runs on a trio of walks in the first inning in being charged with the loss.
McKendree jumped out to a 7-0 lead in game two thanks to three runs in the second inning and four runs in the third frame. In the second inning, senior infielder Tom Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) broke up a scoreless tie with a two-run double, while McBride followed with a single to stake the Bearcats to a three-run advantage.
In the third inning, McKendree loaded the bases before Meyer was hit by a pitch to force home a run. After an RBI groundout by Rose, McBride delivered a two-run single to cap the frame.
Bethel cut into the Bearcats' lead with two runs in the bottom of the third and another run in the fifth to pull within 7-3. McKendree added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning thanks to a Wildcats' error and a sacrifice fly by junior infielder Warren Militello (Flora, Ill./Flora).
Senior right-hander Cole Schrage (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) allowed just two hits over four innings to pick up the victory. Schrage gave up one earned run and walked four batters. The Bearcats' bullpen was extremely effective in the nightcap as three McKendree hurlers combined to give up just two hits with three strikeouts over the final three innings.
-McK-
