(LEBANON, Ill., April 26)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped its 2011 regular-season finale Tuesday at Lindenwood University, 6-5.
The Bearcats led 3-0 in the fourth inning, but the host Lions rallied in the later stages, including two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to post the victory. McKendree wraps up its regular season with an overall record of 22-29. The Bearcats, who went 12-12 in American Midwest Conference play this year, will be one of five teams competing in the AMC Tournament that starts Friday at Missouri Baptist University. Pairings and game times will be announced on Wednesday.
McKendree grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Senior infielder Andy Kuehn (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) and senior outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) reached on consecutive one-out singles. Two batters later, senior catcher Kyle Moll (Mascoutah, IL/Mascoutah) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) put the Bearcats in front with a two-out double to left-center field.
Junior outfielder Brandyn Snider (Fielden, IL/Jersey Community) (Fieldon, Ill./Jersey Community) gave the Bearcats a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning as he led off the frame with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Lindenwood (31-21) battled back to tie the game at 3-3 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
An RBI single by senior catcher Brad Dunnigan (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) sparked a two-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to help McKendree regain a 5-3 lead. Muren scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch.
The host Lions scratched back with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull within 5-4. In the eighth inning, Lindenwood took the lead for good on a two-run home run by Carlos Pianetta.
Four different pitchers saw action in the contest for McKendree. Senior right-hander Eric Gentz (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) was nicked for the loss, giving up two runs in two-third of an inning of work. Senior right-hander Dakota Schutt (Waterloo, IL/Gibault) (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault) earned the non-conference start and allowed just one hit over the first four innings. Schutt walked three but struck out four in the contest.
