(LEBANON, Ill., April 10)—For the second consecutive day, the McKendree University baseball team split an American Midwest Conference doubleheader at Harris-Stowe State University. The Bearcats won the first game of Saturday's twinbill, 9-8, before dropping an 8-2 decision in the nightcap.
Saturday's split leaves McKendree with an overall record of 18-18 and a 5-7 mark in AMC play. The Bearcats will play host to Bethel University in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
In the opener at Harris-Stowe, McKendree rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning and held off a late rally by the host Hornets to register the victory. The Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning thanks to a two-run home run off the bat of junior shortstop Daniel Solis (Chicago, IL/De La Salle) (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle). McKendree extended the margin to 4-0 in the third as senior outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) blasted a solo home run to lead off the frame and junior outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) delivered a run-scoring double.
Harris-Stowe (21-16, 7-7 AMC) countered with four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the contest at 4-4. McKendree regained the lead at 6-4 in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by senior catcher Joe Dickman (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) (Alhambra, Ill./Highland) and a two-out RBI single from Solis. The Hornets cut the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth, then took a 7-6 lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Senior infielder Tyson Moore (Salem, Ill./Salem) (Salem, Ill./Salem) led off the top of the seventh for McKendree with a double. Two batters later, Solis tied the game with an RBI double to score Moore. Senior infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) stepped up next and belted a two-run home run to give the Bearcats a 9-7 advantage. Harris-Stowe added a run in the bottom of the frame and had the tying run at second, but senior right-hander Mark Chapman (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) recorded the final out to pick up the save and preserve the win for McKendree.
Meyer finished the contest with four hits, while Moore and Solis each added three safeties. Junior right-hander Eric Gentz (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) picked up the win in relief for the Bearcats.
Harris-Stowe dominated the second game, rolling to an 8-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. Meyer broke up the Hornets' shutout with a solo home run to lead off the frame. Davinroy brought home the Bearcats' final run of the contest with a two-out RBI single. Meyer was 3-for-3 in the contest as McKendree managed just five hits off two Hornets' pitchers.
-McK-
