Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., March 19)—A nine-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference as the McKendree University baseball team rallied for a 10-6 victory Wednesday at home against the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
The Bearcats won for the second time in its last three games to improve to 5-5 on the year. McKendree will be in Springfield, Mo., this weekend for a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series against Drury University. The teams will meet Saturday and Sunday for doubleheaders that will begin at noon each day.
Against UMSL, McKendree sent 13 batters to the plate in its decisive rally. The Bearcats trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but strung together five hits and took advantage of three Triton errors in the frame.
Seven different starters had a hit in the contest for McKendree. Senior catcher Tyler Collins (Marietta, GA/Walker) led the way with two hits, and his two-run single capped the fifth-inning rally for McKendree. The nine runs scored by McKendree in the fifth inning marked the Bearcats' most productive inning of the 2014 season.
Senior right-hander Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) tossed five innings in relief to pick up the win on the mound for the Bearcats. Dallesasse scattered six hits and gave up two earned runs with a strikeout as he improved to 2-0 on the year.
UMSL (3-7) built its 3-0 lead with two runs in the top of the first inning and another tally in the fourth inning. McKendree came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning with just one hit off Triton starter Nick Dorsey. Freshman infielder Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) started the frame for the Bearcats with a single up the middle. Freshman outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) reached on an error, and Collins followed with a single to left field to load the bases.
Junior infielder Bryce Harre (Nashville, IL/Nashville) delivered Klockowski with an infield single to but McKendree on the scoreboard. Junior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) brought the Bearcats within 3-2 with an RBI single that scored Anderson. After an UMSL pitching change, senior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) tied the game at 3-3 with a sacrifice fly that brought home Collins.
McKendree grabbed the lead for good at 5-3 when a Tritons' error allowed Rutledge and Harre to score. Junior infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) stretched the Bearcats' advantage to 6-3 when he reached on a fielder's choice. After McKendree scored another run thanks to the Tritons' final error of the frame, Collins closed out the lengthy inning with a two-run single to right field.
The Bearcats plated their final run of the contest in the sixth inning. Rutledge led off with a walk and was forced at second base when Kossina reached on a fielder's choice. A walk to senior outfielder Steven Todoschuk (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Saltfleet) moved Kossina to second, and junior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) delivered Kossina with an RBI single to left field.
Trailing by six runs, UMSL put together a rally in the top of the ninth inning, scoring twice and getting the potential tying run to the plate with two outs. But senior right-hander Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) shut the door on the comeback bid by inducing a game-ending groundout to preserve the win.
The teams will meet again in a non-conference doubleheader April 23 in St. Louis.
