Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., April 7)—Sophomore outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) wielded a hot bat in guiding the McKendree University to a split of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader Sunday at home against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Bearcats dropped the opener 4-2 before rebounding with a 4-3 victory in game two.
 
The split leaves McKendree with a 14-12 overall record. The Bearcats are now 9-9 in GLVC play. McKendree will head to Quincy University for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Rutledge collected five hits on the day, including three hits with a pair of RBI in the nightcap. That gives Rutledge three consecutive multi-hit games following a 4-for-4 performance in Saturday's 8-2 game-two victory.
 
Senior first baseman Rob Beatty (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) added three hits on Sunday for McKendree, while junior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) and sophomore infielder Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) each contributed a pair of safeties in game two.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside (1-15, 1-13 GLVC) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one before McKendree responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Rutledge singled to center field with one out and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Two batters later, sophomore infielder Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) scored Rutledge with an RBI single to tie the contest at 1-1. Kline then stole second base and came around to score thanks to a run-scoring single off the bat of Beatty.
 
A two-out rally resulted in a three-run outburst for Wisconsin-Parkside in the top of the sixth inning as the Rangers regained the lead at 4-2. McKendree was able to get the tying runs on base in the bottom half of the sixth and seventh innings, but could not break through against Wisconsin-Parkside.
 
Freshman left-hander Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County) was nicked for the loss on the mound for McKendree. Tonozzi scattered eight hits over six innings with two walks and a strikeout.
 
In game two, McKendree struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Kossina and Rutledge led off with consecutive singles before Tolliver ripped an RBI single to center field to score Kossina with the first run of the contest. Rutledge scored when junior catcher Kolton King (Marion, IL/Marion) produced an RBI single to left field.
 
The visiting Rangers tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning before McKendree grabbed the lead for good with a tally in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman outfielder Mason Shirley (Washburn, IL/Roanoke-Benson) led off with a walk, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by senior catcher Tom Collins (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) and scored with Rutledge singled down the left-field line for a 3-2 McKendree advantage.
 
The Bearcats tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning when Rutledge delivered his second consecutive run-scoring hit, and RBI double to left field.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside tried to rally in the ninth inning, scoring a run to pull within 4-3 and getting the tying run on base, but senior right-hander Pat Thole (Carlyle, IL/Breese Central) was able to strike out the final Rangers' batter to collect his first save of the year.
 
Junior right-hander Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) allowed five hits and two earned runs over six innings as he picked up the mound victory. Trampe walked just one batter and fanned five to earn his fourth win of the season.