(LEBANON, Ill., March 20)—The McKendree University baseball team erupted for 11 runs in the first inning on its way to a 19-9 victory Sunday at home against Lindenwood University.
The Bearcats, who had hit five home runs in 26 games entering Sunday's contest, blasted four round-trippers in the first inning on their way to the non-conference win. McKendree moves to 10-17 on the year and will play host to Harris-Stowe State University in an American Midwest Conference doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m.
Senior outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) led the offensive assault for McKendree with two home runs in the first innings on his way to a four-hit, seven-RBI day. Senior catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) added three hits, while junior infielder Brandon Gargus (Manchester, MO/Parkway South) (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) belted a home run and added three RBI. Senior catcher Brad Dunnigan (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) collected the Bearcats' other round-tripper in Sunday's win.
McKendree sent 16 batters to the plate in the first inning during its 11-run uprising. Freshman outfielder Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) led off with a double before Muren belted his first homer of the inning, a two-run shot. Moll and senior outfielder Dan Corwin (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet) (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) followed with consecutive singles before Gargus crashed a three-run shot to give the Bearcats a 5-0 advantage. Junior outfielder Brandyn Snider (Fielden, IL/Jersey Community) (Fieldon, Ill./Jersey Community) drew a walk before Lindenwood made a pitching change.
Dunnigan stepped up next and blasted a two-run home run to extend the Bearcats' margin to 7-0. Senior infielder Andy Kuehn (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) doubled and senior shortstop Daniel Solis (Chicago, IL/De La Salle) (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) was hit by a pitch before Kossina reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Muren then hit his second home run of the inning, a grand slam, to close out the 11-run inning for McKendree.
The Bearcats added another run in the second to build the lead to 12-0 as Moll delivered an RBI groundout with the bases loaded. Lindenwood (15-13) scored three runs in the top of the third inning before McKendree answered with a single run in the bottom of the frame. Gargus and Snider drew consecutive walks to lead off the inning before Kuehn ripped an RBI double to score Gargus and push the Bearcats' lead back to 13-3.
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning before Lindenwood scratched out another run in the sixth inning to pull within 14-5. The Lions then scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull within 14-9. However, McKendree closed out the contest with five runs in the bottom of the seventh to invoke the 10-run rule. Sophomore infielder Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) started the outburst with an RBI double. Muren added his seventh RBI of the game with a run-scoring single before junior infielder Jimmy Smith (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) closed out the contest with an RBI single.
Senior left-hander Alex Young (Odin, IL/Odin) (Odin, Ill./Odin) tossed the final five innings to pick up the win on the mound for McKendree. Young allowed eight hits and four earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts.
