(LEBANON, Ill., March 28)—The McKendree University baseball team returned to American Midwest Conference action Monday with a doubleheader split at home against Harris-Stowe State University. The Bearcats won the first game 4-2 before dropping a 4-3 decision in 11 innings in the nightcap.
The split leaves McKendree with a season record of 11-18. The Bearcats are now 2-4 in AMC play this season and are scheduled to host Harris-Stowe again on Tuesday in another AMC doubleheader at Hypes Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Senior right-hander Nolan Martz (East Alton, IL/Roxana) (East Alton, Ill./Roxana) allowed four hits over five innings to earn the game one victory for McKendree. Martz walked two and struck out five to even his record at 2-2 on the year.
In the first game, McKendree jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Junior outfielder Brandyn Snider (Fielden, IL/Jersey Community) (Fieldon, Ill./Jersey Community) reached on a one-out bunt single and stole second base. After moving to third on a groundout, Snider scored on an RBI single by senior infielder Andy Kuehn (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah).
The Bearcats tacked on two more unearned runs in the third inning to build a 3-0 advantage. Harris-Stowe (14-15, 4-6 AMC) cut the deficit to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. McKendree then added a key insurance run in the sixth inning thanks to a solo home run from junior infielder Brandon Gargus (Manchester, MO/Parkway South) (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South).
Junior right-hander Kraig Interial (Plainfield, IL/Meridian) (Plainfield, Ill./Meridian) then came in and retired the final three batters to pick up his second save of the year for McKendree.
In game two, the Bearcats scored three times in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead. Snider started the inning with a walk. He moved to second on a groundout. Senior shortstop Daniel Solis (Chicago, IL/De La Salle) (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) then reached on an infield single, and a throwing error allowed Snider to score with the first run of the contest. Freshman infielder Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) brought Solis home with an RBI single, and senior outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) capped the rally with a run-scoring triple.
Harris-Stowe scored a single run in the third inning to cut the deficit to 3-1. That score stood until the top of the seventh inning, when the Hornets rallied with two runs to tie the contest. Monty Cooper's two-out, two-run single knotted the contest at 3-3.
McKendree had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Harris-Stowe reliever Brandon Wehking struck out sophomore infielder Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) to get out of a jam. The Bearcats also stranded the winning run at third base in the bottom of the 10th inning.
In the top of the 11th inning, Harris-Stowe put runners at first and second with one out. The Hornets' Robert Figueira then hit a hard smash back up the middle that deflected off McKendree freshman pitcher Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) (Collinsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) into left field, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Wehking, who pitched the final five innings in relief for Harris-Stowe, retired the Bearcats in order in the bottom of the 11th to pick up the win.
Trampe, the last of seven pitchers in the contest for McKendree, was charged with the loss. In three innings of work, Trampe allowed three hits with a walk and a strikeout. Freshman right-hander Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) started for the Bearcats gave up one earned run and three hits over the first four inning with a walk and two strikeouts.
