BOX SCORE

(ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 21)—Despite a four-hit day by freshman shortstop Blake Abbott (Peoria, IL/Dunlap), the McKendree University baseball team was defeated on the road Wednesday at Harris-Stowe State University, 15-9.
 
The Bearcats built an early 8-3 lead, but the host Hornets used five-run outbursts in the third and eighth innings to rally for the win. McKendree slips to 4-20 on the year and will be on the road Friday for a nine-inning game at Hannibal-LaGrange University. First pitch will occur at 2 p.m.
 
Abbott (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) had a perfect day at the plate, rapping out three singles along with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Abbott also drew a walk in his final plate appearance in the eighth inning in leading a 16-hit attack for the Bearcats.
 
Senior infielder Ronnie Calvird (Farmington, MO/Park Hills Central) (Farmington, Mo./Park Hills Central) and freshman outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) each added three hits at Harris-Stowe, with Rutledge and senior catcher Brandon Gargus (Manchester, MO/Parkway South) (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) hitting home runs in the contest. Gargus, senior outfielder Brandyn Snider (Fielden, IL/Jersey Community) (Fielden, Ill./Jersey Community) and freshman infielder Jeffrey Tolliver (Salem, Ill./Salem) posted two hits apiece for McKendree.
 
In the first inning, McKendree took advantage of three Harris-Stowe errors to grab a 3-0 lead. Calvird started the scoring with an RBI single to left field. After the second run of the frame scored on a balk, Gargus brought home Calvird with another run-scoring single. Harris-Stowe (12-17) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first before the Bearcats regained its three-run lead in the second inning. Abbott collected his first hit with a leadoff single. Snider followed with a single before Calvird belted an RBI double for a 4-2 lead. Another Hornets' error brought home the final run of the inning for McKendree.
 
Harris-Stowe pulled within 5-3 before Gargus led off the third inning with a solo home run deep down the left-field line. Rutledge took the next pitch and deposited it over the left-center field fence for a 7-3 McKendree lead. Abbott reached with his second straight single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by sophomore outfielder Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) (Millstadt, Ill./Belleville West) to push the Bearcats' lead to 8-3.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Hornets rallied with five runs to knot the contest at 8-8. That score held up until the sixth inning, when Cesar Tovar hit a two-run home run to push Harris-Stowe out in front for good at 10-8.
 
Abbott helped the Bearcats rally within 10-9 with an RBI double in the seventh inning. But the Hornets plated five insurance runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. McKendree put together one more rally in the top of the ninth inning, loading the bases with one out. But Harris-Stowe wiggled out of the jam to preserve the victory.
 
      Freshman right-hander Sam Jakaitis (Rochester, IL/Rochester) (Rochester, Ill./Rochester) was nicked for the loss in relief for McKendree. Jakaitis allowed four earned runs over 2 2/3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.