BOX SCORES -- SUSPENDED GAME | REGULATION GAME
(ST. CHARLES, Mo., May 3)—The McKendree University baseball season came to an end Thursday as the Bearcats were defeated twice at Lindenwood University. The Bearcats lost a 14-0 decision in the completion of a suspended game that began on Saturday in Lebanon. The host Lions then held off a late rally from McKendree to notch a 3-2 win in the Bearcats' season finale.
McKendree closes out its 2012 season with an overall record of 14-31. The Bearcats, who are in the midst of their three-year transition towards NCAA Division II membership, are not eligible for post-season play.
In the season finale, McKendree trailed 3-0 before plating runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull within 3-2. In the fifth, freshman infielder Jeffrey Tolliver (Salem, Ill./Salem) led off with a double into the left-field corner and came around to score on an RBI single by fellow freshman infielder
Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) (Mt. Vernon, Ill./Mt. Vernon).
The Bearcats put together a two-out rally in the sixth inning to close within a run. Freshman outfielder
Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) reached on a throwing error and eventually scored on a run-scoring single off the bat of freshman infielder Jacob Kline (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North). But Lindenwood (26-19) was able to hold off McKendree in the seventh inning to escape with the victory.
Freshman right-hander
Vince Kiefer (Lenzburg, IL/New Athens) (Lenzburg, Ill./New Athens) was charged with the loss, allowing six hits and three earned runs in three innings of work. Kiefer walked three and fanned two batters. Senior
Kraig Interial (Plainfield, IL/Meridian) (Plainfield, Ill./Meridian) held Lindenwood in check over the final three innings, giving up just one hit over the final three innings.
The day began with the completion of a game that was suspended on Saturday in the bottom of the third inning with Lindenwood holding a 6-0 advantage. The Lions pulled away with five runs in the fourth inning. Lindenwood pitchers Dylan Terrell and Steffin Simmons combined for a five-hitter, with Terrell tossing the first five innings to pick up the victory.
