The split gives McKendree an overall record of 4-5. The Bearcats are now 1-3 in the GLVC. McKendree will step out of conference Wednesday at 3 p.m. to host the University of Missouri-St. Louis in Lebanon.

Freshman right-hander Jacob Renfrow (St. Louis, MO/Hancock) allowed just four hits over six innings to notch his first collegiate victory on the mound in game one. Renfrow walked just one batter as he combined with sophomore right-hander Matt Sax (Chicago, IL/Jones Prep) for the Bearcats' second shutout win of the 2014 season. Sax worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning to preserve the victory for McKendree.

McKendree scored twice in the first inning for a 2-0 advantage. Senior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) pushed a bunt single over the first baseman's head with one out and moved to third on a hit-and-run single off the bat of senior outfielder Steven Todoschuk (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Saltfleet). Kossina scored on a balk before junior infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) delivered Todoschuk with an RBI single to cap the scoring in the opening frame.

The 2-0 score stood until the sixth inning, when McKendree plated a pair of two-out, unearned runs to stretch its lead to four. Borah reached on an error to open the inning. Three batters later, freshman outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) drew a walk before junior outfielder Bryce Harre (Nashville, IL/Nashville) made it 3-0 with an RBI single to center field. Junior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) reached on the Hawks' second error of the inning, allowing Anderson to score with the second run of the inning.

Todoschuk and Borah each had two hits to pace McKendree in game one.

 Looking for the twinbill sweep, McKendree took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two. Rutledge led off the frame with an infield single and promptly stole second base. Rutledge moved to third on a groundout by Kossina and scored on an RBI groundout by Todoschuk. Rockhurst (3-7, 3-1 GLVC) tied the game with a run in the fourth inning, then took its first lead of the day with three runs in the top of the fifth to build a 4-1 cushion.

McKendree answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to knot the score once again at 4-4. Freshman catcher Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) and Rutledge produced back-to-back doubles to start the inning, and Kossina followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Todoschuk walked to load the bases before junior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) singled to drive home Rutledge to trim the deficit to 4-3.

Following a Rockhurst pitching change, freshman infielder Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Kossina with the tying run.

However, Rockhurst took control by scoring six runs over its final three at-bats to regain the lead for good at 10-4. McKendree looked to mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth as Todoschuk and Kline singled to start the inning. Two batters later, senior Kolton King (Marion, IL/Marion) stepped up as a pinch-hitter and reached on an infield single to load the bases. Borah drew a walk to force home Todoschuk to help the Bearcats pull within five runs. But the Hawks shut the door on the McKendree comeback to record the split.

Rutledge and Kline each finished with three hits in the nightcap, while Kossina, Jackson and freshman infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) each collected a pair of hits. The teams combined for 31 hits in game two, including 16 by Rockhurst.

Sophomore left-hander Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County), the second of three pitchers in the game for McKendree, was nicked for the loss. Tonozzi allowed three earned runs and five hits over 2 2/3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts.