Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., March 8)—The McKendree University baseball team overcame a three-run deficit to post a 6-3 victory Friday at home against Culver-Stockton College.
 
The Bearcats scored twice in the sixth inning before using a four-run outburst in the eighth inning to take the lead for good. McKendree was able to pick up its first victory of the 2013 season with the rally. The Bearcats are now 1-2 on the year and will host Culver-Stockton Saturday at Hypes Field for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is at noon.
 
Sophomore infielder Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) provided the go-ahead hit with his RBI single in the eighth inning. Tolliver, along with sophomore infielder Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North), had a hit and two runs batted in to help lead the Bearcats' attack. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) had two hits in the contest for McKendree, while junior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) scored a pair of runs in the effort.
 
Culver-Stockton (6-7) scored three runs in the top of the third inning to grab the early lead. Two of the runs were unearned off McKendree sophomore starter Vince Kiefer (Lenzburg, IL/New Athens). The Bearcats started to chip away at the deficit in the sixth inning by scoring twice to pull within 3-2. Kossina was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to second when sophomore infielder Blake Abbott (Peoria, IL/Dunlap) drew a walk. Rutledge reached on an error to load the bases before Kline brought Kossina home with an RBI groundout.
 
Tolliver stepped up next and belted a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Abbott with the second run of the inning.
 
Kossina started the Bearcats' winning rally in the eighth inning with a leadoff single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abbott and reached third when Rutledge singled to left field. Kline stepped up next and belted an RBI single to center field that scored Kossina with the tying run. Following a Culver-Stockton pitching change, Tolliver delivered his game-winning hit with a single to left field that plated Rutledge for a 4-3 McKendree lead.
 
Senior first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) made it 5-3 with a run-scoring single to right field, and junior catcher Tyler Collins (Marietta, GA/Walker) capped the inning with an RBI groundout.
 
Kiefer pitched seven strong innings for McKendree, giving up just four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Junior right-hander Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) earned the victory in relief of Kiefer as he allowed three hits and a walk over the final two innings of the contest. The Wildcats brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but Trampe retired the final hitter on a fly ball to Rutledge in center field to preserve the victory for McKendree.