(JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 18)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped a 7-1 decision Friday afternoon at Belhaven University in the second game of a split doubleheader at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson, Miss.
McKendree, which had defeated the NAIA's top-ranked team -- Cumberland University -- in Friday's first game of the day, gave up seven unanswered runs in a two-inning span to the No. 12-ranked team in the NAIA pre-season poll. The Bearcats slip to 2-4 on the year and will meet both Cumberland and Belhaven again on Saturday in Jackson. McKendree will square off against Cumberland at 10 a.m. before meeting Belhaven in its final game of the weekend at 1 p.m.
Both Cumberland and Belhaven advanced to the NAIA World Series a year ago, with Cumberland claiming its second national championship in 2010.
In Friday's second game, the Bearcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when senior outfielder Dan Corwin (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet) (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) ripped a two-out solo home run. McKendree threatened in the fourth by loading the bases thanks to three consecutive two-out walks, but the Blazers' Brett Blaise induced an inning-ending fielder's choice to escape the jam.
Belhaven took control by scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to grab a 5-1 lead. The Blazers then tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning to extend its advantage to 7-1. Belhaven starting pitcher Brett Blaise allowed just two hits over the first six innings of play before running into trouble in the seventh inning. The Bearcats loaded the bases with nobody out in the frame before junior outfielder Brandyn Snider (Fielden, IL/Jersey Community) (Fieldon, Ill./Jersey Community) struck out. Belhaven then brought in Kiel Higginbotham, who induced a game-ending double play ground ball to seal the victory for the Blazers.
Freshman right-hander Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) was nicked for his second loss of the season for McKendree. In 3 1/3 innings of work, Dallesasse allowed five earned runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Cole Wille (Maryville, IL/Collinsville) (Maryville, Ill./Collinsville) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits with a strikeout.
