(ROLLA, Mo., April 28)—The McKendree University baseball team wrapped up its 2009 regular season with a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Missouri S & T University in Rolla, Mo. The Bearcats dropped the first game 7-4 before the teams played to a 9-9 tie after nine innings in the nightcap. The second game was called due to darkness.

McKendree will take a 32-18-2 record into the American Midwest Conference Tournament, which begins on Friday at Hypes Field. The Bearcats earned the right to host the four-team, double-elimination tournament by winning the AMC regular-season championship. McKendree will take on either Hannibal-LaGrange College or Missouri Baptist University in a first-round contest Friday at 11 a.m. Friday's opponent will be determined after Hannibal-LaGrange and Missouri Baptist square off in the final AMC doubleheader of the season on Wednesday in Hannibal, Mo.

At Missouri S & T, sophomore outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville had a big day at the plate, collecting five hits, including a 3-for-3 effort with three RBI in game one. Junior infielder Warren Militello (Flora, Ill./Flora) added three hits, while junior catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning of game two that forced extra innings.

Missouri S & T (17-30-1) broke out to a 5-0 lead in the first game thanks to a four-run outburst in the first inning and a single run in the second. McKendree cut into the deficit by scoring three times in the fourth inning to pull within 5-3. Senior outfielder Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) doubled down the left-field line to start the frame. After a single by junior outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) put runners at first and third, Militello drove O'Rear home with an RBI single. Muren then added a two-out, two-run single to cap the scoring.

After the Miners plated single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to extend its margin back to 7-3, McKendree scored its final run of the contest with a two-out rally. Back-to-back singles by Militello and senior catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) put runners at first and second. Muren followed with a double to center to bring the Bearcats within three runs.

Five different pitchers worked in the contest for McKendree, with senior Cole Schrage (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) taking the loss. Schrage started and gave up five earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

McKendree jumped in front quickly in game two with a three-run first inning. The Bearcats loaded the bases before senior outfielder Chad Ohnesorge (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) drew a walk to force home the first run of the frame. Sophomore catcher Brad Dunnigan (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) followed with a two-run double down the right-field line to give the Bearcats a three-run advantage.

Missouri S &T scored a run in the bottom of the first before McKendree answered with another run in the top of the second to regain a 4-1 lead. Sophomore catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill.,/Mascoutah) and Muren opened the frame with consecutive doubles to account for the second-inning scoring. The Miners responded by scoring five times in the third inning to grab a 6-4 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Bearcats tied the game thanks to a two-run double from Ohnesorge. Missouri S & T took its second lead of the day by scoring three times in the fifth inning for a 9-6 advantage.

McKendree was down to its final out of the contest when Dickman came off the bench to blast a three-run home run to knot the score at 9-9. Neither team was able to punch across the go-ahead run in extra innings, and the game was called after the ninth inning because of darkness.

-McK-