Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., March 23)—Pitching ruled the day for McKendree University on Saturday as the Bearcat baseball squad swept a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at home against William Jewell College. McKendree won by scores of 4-0 and 5-0 to complete a four-game weekend sweep of the visiting Cardinals.
 
With two more victories on the weekend, McKendree improved to 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the GLVC. The Bearcats have now won their last six conference games. McKendree will step out of league play on Wednesday to wrap up a six-game home stand with the University of Missouri-St. Louis. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Hypes Field.
 
Three McKendree hurlers combined to allow William Jewell just five singles over the two contests. Freshman right-hander Matt Sax (Chicago, IL/Jones Prep) earned his first collegiate victory in dominant fashion with a complete-game two-hitter in the opener. Sax walked just one batter and struck out three over his seven innings of work. Sax needed just 66 pitches in the effort to lead the Bearcats to victory.
 
Sophomore righty Vince Kiefer (Lenzburg, IL/New Athens) limited the Cardinals to three hits over six innings of the nightcap to collect the win on the mound for McKendree. Kiefer walked three and fanned three as he improved to 1-1 on the season. Junior right-hander Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) did not allow a hit over the final three innings to pick up the save for the Bearcats.
 
In game one, McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Junior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) led off by reaching on a bunt single, and sophomore outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) followed with a single to left field. After Kossina was thrown out on a steal attempt, sophomore infielder Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) delivered an RBI double to bring home Rutledge with the first run of the contest. Kline eventually scored after senior first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) hit into a fielder's choice.
 
The Bearcats scored their final two runs of the contest in the fifth inning. Rutledge doubled to left field before Kline ripped a run-scoring double to center field for a 3-0 McKendree lead. The Bearcats eventually loaded the bases in the inning when sophomore outfielder Bryce Harre (Nashville, IL/Nashville) drew an RBI walk to force home Kline to close out the scoring.
 
Kossina finished the game with three hits, while Rutledge and Kline each chipped in with a pair of hits.
 
McKendree scored a run in the first inning of game two to grab another early lead. Kossina reached on a William Jewell error and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Kline with one out. Sophomore infielder Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) stepped up and brought home Kossina with a run-scoring double.
 
In the fifth inning, McKendree added three more runs to stretch its lead to 4-0. Sophomore outfielder Jason Hobson (Griggsville, IL/Griggsville-Perry) started the rally with a one-out bunt single. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Rutledge to open the scoring in the frame. Kline added a run-scoring double, while Tolliver produced his second RBI double of the contest to build a four-run advantage for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree's final run of the contest came in the seventh inning when Kossina led off with a single and came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Tolliver. The Bearcats had 11 hits in the game, with three coming off the bat of Tolliver. Kossina added a pair of hits and scored three times.