Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., April 17)—The McKendree University baseball team took one of two games in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Wednesday at home against Bellarmine University. The Bearcats squandered a big lead in the opener but came back to post a 12-11 victory before falling to the Knights in game two, 13-3.
 
The split gives McKendree a 17-15 overall record and 12-12 mark in the GLVC. The Bearcats will continue their home stand this weekend by hosting Saint Joseph's College in a four-game conference series. McKendree and Saint Joseph's will meet Saturday in a doubleheader set for a noon first pitch at Hypes Field.
 
McKendree's offense came to life early in game one as the Bearcats raced to a 9-2 lead after two innings of play. The Bearcats eventually stretched the margin to 11-3 before the Knights rallied with eight runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the contest at 11-11. But McKendree bounced back, loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and grabbed the win when sophomore infielder Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) was hit by a pitch to force home sophomore outfielder Bryce Harre (Nashville, IL/Nashville) with the winning run.
 
Senior first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) was a perfect 4-for-4 in the opener with three doubles and a pair of RBI. Sophomore infielder Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) contributed two hits with three runs scored and two runs batted in, while junior catcher Tyler Collins (Marietta, GA/Walker) was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
 
In the first inning of game one, sophomore outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) drew a walk and came around to score when Tolliver doubled off the center-field fence. Two batters later, Beatty ripped an RBI double to score Tolliver for a 2-0 lead. Collins stepped up next and brought home Beatty with a run-scoring single to close out the inning.
 
After Bellarmine (19-15, 14-8 GLVC) scored a pair of runs to pull within 3-2, McKendree sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame to score six times and extend its lead to 9-2. Sophomore infielder Blake Abbott (Peoria, IL/Dunlap) led off with a single and moved to second as Harre drew a walk. Junior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) then reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Two batters later, Tolliver was hit by a pitch to bring home Abbott with the first run of the inning.
 
Harre scored on an error to build the Bearcats' lead to 5-2. An RBI single off the bat of Beatty gave McKendree a four-run cushion. Junior catcher Kolton King (Marion, IL/Marion) made it 8-2 with a two-run single before Abbott ended the outburst with an RBI single to bring home Beatty.
 
Collins helped give McKendree an 11-3 lead with a two-run double in the sixth inning. The Knights responded by sending 12 batters to the plate in the top of the seventh inning and scored eight runs on seven hits to tie the game at 11-11.
 
Harre led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk. Harre then stole second base before Rutledge worked a walk. Tolliver singled to load the bases before Kline was hit by a 2-2 pitch to bring home Harre with the winning run and give McKendree the victory.
 
Freshman left-hander Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County) picked up his third win of the year as he recorded the final out in the top of the seventh inning for the Bearcats.
 
Bellarmine jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap before McKendree rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Rutledge delivered an RBI single in the inning while the second run scored on a throwing error. The Knights then took command by scoring five times in the third inning to extend its lead to 8-2.
 
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, with the McKendree tally coming when Kline doubled off the right-center field fence to score Tolliver, who walked with one out. Bellarmine closed out the scoring with four runs in the seventh inning.