(LEBANON, Ill., April 11)—The McKendree University baseball team earned its fourth consecutive doubleheader split on Friday at home, taking one of two games against the University of Indianapolis. The Bearcats rallied to win the opener 8-4 before dropping a 7-1 decision in game two.

Friday's split gives McKendree an overall record of 11-18, while the Bearcats improve to 6-14 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. McKendree and Indianapolis will meet again on Saturday for the final two games of their four-game weekend series at Hypes Field. First pitch is set for noon.

Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning in game one, McKendree scored five unearned runs in the frame to grab the win from Indianapolis. Junior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) and junior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal), who each had a key hit in the five-run outburst, each collected three hits in game one. Freshman infielder Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) added a pair of hits in the opener, while senior outfielder Steven Todoschuk (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Saltfleet) and junior infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) each tallied two hits in the game two loss to the Greyhounds.

Indianapolis (18-15, 13-7 GLVC) scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings of game one to build a 3-0 lead. McKendree tied the game by scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth. Klockowski started the rally with a single up the middle. Freshman infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) followed with a single before junior first baseman Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) doubled down the left-field line to plate Klockowski with the Bearcats' first run of the contest.

Following a pitching change, freshman catcher Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) bounced out to second base to drive in Boehne to trim the McKendree deficit to 3-2. Freshman outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) then reached on an error that scored Tolliver with the tying run.

In the top of the eighth inning, Indianapolis scratched out a run to regain the lead at 4-3. McKendree responded by sending nine batters to the plate during its five-run rally in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Jackson drew a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Freshman outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) came on as a pinch-runner ahead of a walk to Roberts. Senior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) then bounced into a fielder's choice, and an errant throw allowed Anderson to score and tie the game at 4-4.

Todoschuk drew a walk to load the bases before Kline ripped a two-run single to right field, giving McKendree its first lead of the day at 6-4. Rutledge followed with his own two-RBI single to cap the rally and send the Bearcats to the ninth inning with a four-run lead.

From there, senior right-hander Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) was able to escape a final rally attempt by Indianapolis to register the victory on the mound. Trampe pitched the final five innings for the Bearcats, giving up five hits and two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts. The win was Trampe's second of the season.

The Greyhounds took control early in game two, plating four runs in the second inning and three more in the third to build a 7-0 advantage. McKendree avoided the shutout by scoring its lone run of the contest with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Borah led off with a single and moved to second on a one out walk freshman infielder Justin Becker (Bartelso, IL/Breese Central). Two batters later, Todoschuk drilled an RBI double to the gap in left-center field to score Borah.

Freshman right-hander Jacob Renfrow (St. Louis, MO/Hancock) was nicked for the loss, allowing six earned runs and seven hits over 2 1/3 innings.