(LEBANON, Ill., April 1)—The McKendree University baseball team collected two road victories on Friday with an American Midwest Conference doubleheader sweep at Williams Baptist College. The Bearcats posted a 4-1 win in the opener before battling to a 3-2 triumph in game two.

Freshman right-hander Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) went the distance in game one to earn his first collegiate complete game for McKendree. Dallesasse tossed a five-hitter and allowed one unearned run to pick up his second victory of the season. Dallesasse walked one and struck out six in the contest.

Senior catcher Brad Dunnigan (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning of game two with a one-out solo home run to right field. The round-tripper gave McKendree the lead for good, and the Bearcats had to hold off one final rally attempt from the Eagles to complete the sweep.

Senior outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) and junior infielder Brandon Gargus (Manchester, MO/Parkway South) (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) each had three hits in game one, and both played a part in a two-run first inning for McKendree. Muren reached with a one-out single to start the rally. Two batters later, senior outfielder Dan Corwin (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet) (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet) singled to put a pair of runners on base. After Muren and Corwin moved up on a wild pitch, Gargus delivered a two-run single up the middle to push McKendree out to a 2-0 lead.

Williams Baptist (5-19, 0-12 AMC) scored its only run in the third inning to pull within 2-1. McKendree responded with runs in the fourth and fifth innings to build a 4-1 advantage. Muren ripped an RBI single to right field in the fourth inning to give the Bearcats a two-run advantage. Gargus scored McKendree's final run of the contest in the fifth inning on an error by the Eagles.

From there, Dallesasse took control. Dallesasse retired eight of the final nine batters he faced in the contest. He gave up four singles and just one extra-base hit in the effort.

Gargus gave McKendree a 1-0 lead in the nightcap as the Bearcats put together a two-out rally. Senior catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) and Corwin started the uprising as they drew consecutive walks. Gargus followed with a single to left field to bring home sophomore Zane Maus (Waterloo, IL/Valmeyer) (Waterloo, Ill./Valmeyer), who was a courtesy runner for Moll.

The Eagles tied the game in the third inning before McKendree regained a one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning without the benefit of a base hit. Muren was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. He quickly moved to second on a wild pitch, and another wild pitch put Muren at third base with two outs. Muren then scored on a passed ball by the Williams Baptist catcher to push the Bearcats back in front 2-1. The lead was short-lived as the Eagles tied the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth.

With one out in the top of the sixth inning, Dunnigan stepped to the plate for McKendree. He drove the first pitch from Brad Nelson – a chest-high fastball – on a high arc to deep right field. The Eagles' Paul Welch leaped at the fence, but could not get a glove on the ball, and Dunnigan's home run gave McKendree its third lead of the contest.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Welch drove a pitch down the right-field line and reached on a one-out triple. The next batter for Williams Baptist hit a bouncer to third base, which was quickly grabbed by senior infielder Andy Kuehn (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah). Welch broke for home plate, and Kuehn quickly fired the ball home. Moll had the plate blocked, and he took Kuehn's throw and tagged Welch out for the second out of the inning. Junior right-hander Kraig Interial (Plainfield, IL/Meridian) (Plainfield, Ill./Meridian) then picked up the final out to register his third save of the season for McKendree.

Senior left-hander Alex Young (Odin, IL/Odin) (Odin, Ill./Odin) earned the victory in relief for the Bearcats. In two innings of work, Young allowed an unearned run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Young is now 3-2 on the season.

The sweep gives the Bearcats an overall record of 15-18. McKendree is now 6-4 in AMC play. McKendree and Williams Baptist will wrap up their four-game weekend series with another doubleheader on Saturday in Walnut Ridge, Ark. First pitch is set for noon.