Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., March 7)—The McKendree University baseball team opened its weather-delayed 2013 season on Thursday, dropping both ends of a doubleheader at Hypes Field against Quincy University. The Bearcats squandered a late lead in game one in an 8-4 loss to the Hawks before Quincy pulled away for a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
 
McKendree will search for its first win of the new season on Friday when the Bearcats play host to Culver-Stockton College in a nine-inning contest. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Freshman left-hander Sam Lidisky (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) earned the season-opening start for McKendree. Lidisky responded by limiting Quincy to just one run and four hits over six innings of work. He walked four and struck out three in the outing.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the third inning, McKendree rallied with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Senior outfielder Pat Thole (Carlyle, IL/Breese Central) singled to lead off the inning, which was followed by a walk to sophomore outfielder Bryce Harre (Nashville, IL/Nashville). After Thole moved to third on a flyout he came around to score when sophomore infielder Blake Abbott (Peoria, IL/Dunlap) grounded into a fielder's choice.
 
Sophomore outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) was hit by a pitch, and sophomore infielder Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) pushed the Bearcats in front with a two-out, two-run double to score Abbott and Rutledge.
 
Quincy rallied to grab the lead with a seven-run seventh inning to build an 8-3 margin. McKendree tried to rally, pulling within four runs on an RBI single by Rutledge. The Bearcats had the bases loaded with two outs and the tying run at the plate. But Kline grounded into a fielder's choice to close the contest. Rutledge was the lone McKendree player with two hits in game one, while Thole scored twice.
 
In game two, Quincy (3-3) plated three runs in the top of the third inning before McKendree responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Senior first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) led off with a single and moved to second when Thole drew a walk. Freshman outfielder Mason Shirley (Washburn, IL/Roanoke-Benson) fouled off several pitches before earning a 10-pitch walk to load the bases.
 
Abbott brought home Beatty with the first run thanks to an RBI fielder's choice before Thole scored on a Quincy throwing error to trim the deficit to 3-2. Rutledge then hit a slow bouncer to shortstop that turned into an RBI infield single to plate Abbott with the tying run.
 
The Hawks scratched out a run in the fifth inning before breaking the contest open with five runs in the sixth inning.
 
Junior right-hander Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) scattered nine hits and seven runs over 5 2/3 innings in taking the loss on the mound for McKendree. Dallesasse walked two and struck out one.