(LEBANON, Ill., March 12)—The McKendree University baseball team took one of two games at home Saturday afternoon in non-conference play against Benedictine University at Springfield. The Bearcats needed eight innings to win the opener, 8-7, before the visiting Bulldogs nipped the Bearcats in the finale, 2-1.

The split leaves McKendree with an overall record of 7-13. The Bearcats and Benedictine-Springfield will play another twinbill Sunday at Hypes Field, with first pitch coming at 1 p.m.

McKendree overcame a 5-0 deficit in game one, thanks to a seven-run fourth inning. However, Benedictine-Springfield tied the game with two runs in the seventh inning to force extra innings. The Bearcats then plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a one-out double by sophomore first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West).

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the third inning and three more in the top of the fourth to grab its five-run advantage in game one. McKendree responded by sending 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth, scoring seven times to take a 7-5 lead. Junior outfielder Brandyn Snider (Fielden, IL/Jersey Community) (Fieldon, Ill./Jersey Community) started the comeback with a two-run double off the right-field fence. Senior infielder Andy Kuehn (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) followed with a two-run double down the left-field line to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 5-4.

After McKendree loaded the bases for the second time in the inning, senior catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) delivered a two-run single to center field to give the Bearcats their first lead of the game at 6-5. Junior infielder Brandon Gargus (Manchester, MO/Parkway South) (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) capped the scoring outburst with an RBI infield single.

Benedictine-Springfield scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to even the contest at 7-7. The score remained tied until the bottom of the eighth. Moll led off the frame with a walk, and the Bearcats sent in junior catcher Jordan Luttrell (Xenia, IL/Flora) (Xenia, Ill./Flora) as a courtesy runner. Junior infielder Jimmy Smith (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Luttrell into scoring position, and Beatty followed by ripping the final pitch of the contest deep into right-center field to scoring Luttrell with the winning run.

Moll had three hits in the game, while Kuehn, Snider and senior outfielder Dan Corwin (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet) (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) each had two hits for the Bearcats.

Junior right-hander Kraig Interial (Plainfield, IL/Meridian) (Plainfield, Ill./Meridian) earned his first victory for McKendree. Interial pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the Bearcats, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.

Game two turned into a pitcher's duel between McKendree freshman Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) and Benedictine-Springfield's Tristan Molumby. The Bulldogs scratched out a run in the second inning and another in the fourth to build a 2-0 advantage. That score held until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Bearcats put together one final rally attempt. With one out, senior shortstop Daniel Solis (Chicago, IL/De La Salle) (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) doubled to right field. Snider then drew a walk to put the potential tying run on base.

After a flyout allowed Solis to advance to third base, Benedictine-Springfield reliever Travis McGrath unleashed a wild pitch. That allowed Solis to score to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 2-1, and put Snider into scoring position at second base. A walk to freshman outfielder Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) extended the inning, but McGrath struck out Corwin to pick up the save and give the Bulldogs the split on the day.

Molumby picked up the win for Benedictine-Springfield by scattering six hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. Dallesasse gave up just four hits and one earned run over six innings for McKendree. Dallesasse walked two and fanned seven batters.