Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., March 20)—The McKendree University baseball team was defeated in non-conference play Wednesday at home by Maryville University, 5-3.
 
The visiting Saints rallied twice in the later innings to overcome the Bearcats and hang on for the win. McKendree slips to 7-5 overall and will host William Jewell College in a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series Friday and Saturday at Hypes Field.
 
Sophomore outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) had two of the Bearcats' six hits in the contest against Maryville, while junior infielder Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) and senior first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) each collected a double agains the Saints.
 
Freshman right-hander Travis Blumhorst (Venedy, IL/Okawville) limited Maryville to one run on four hits over the first five innings of play. Blumhorst walked three and struck out two in his second start of the season.
 
Maryville (3-7) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning, and held that advantage until McKendree rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to grab its only lead of the day. Rutledge led off the inning with a walk. Two batters later, sophomore infielder Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) reached on an error by the Saints, and Beatty followed with a walk to load the bases. After a Maryville pitching change, junior catcher Tyler Collins (Marietta, GA/Walker) drew a walk to force home Rutledge with the tying run.
 
Sophomore outfielder Bryce Harre (Nashville, IL/Nashville) stepped up next and lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Tolliver to give the Bearcats a 2-1 advantage.
 
In the top of the seventh, Maryville answered with two runs to regain a 3-2 lead before McKendree pushed across a run in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 3-3. Sophomore outfielder Jason Hobson (Griggsville, IL/Griggsville-Perry) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second base on a balk. Rutledge legged out an infield single that moved Hobson to third base with one out. Two batters later with Tolliver at the plate, Rutledge stole second base and the throw skipped into center field to score Hobson from third base.
 
But the Saints put up two runs in the top of the eighth inning to take the lead for good at 5-3. McKendree threatened in the bottom of the inning as Beatty doubled to deep center field and Collins singled to put the tying runs on base. However, Maryville reliever Brett Grempler wiggled out of the jam and then retired the Bearcats in the ninth to pick up the save.