(LEBANON, Ill., April 26)—The McKendree University baseball team lost both ends of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday at Hypes Field against Lewis University. The Bearcats dropped a 14-5 decision in the opener before falling by a 10-4 count in game two.

McKendree moves to 14-27 overall and 9-21 in GLVC play. The Bearcats and Flyers will close out their four-game weekend series with another twinbill Sunday at Hypes Field. First pitch, which was originally slated for noon, has been moved up one hour to 11 a.m. because of anticipated rainy conditions in the area.

Freshman infielder Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) and senior outfielder Steven Todoschuk (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Saltfleet) each had three hits on the day for McKendree. Junior first baseman Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) added a double and home run on the day and drove in three runs during the doubleheader against Lewis.

After Lewis grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one, the Bearcats answered with a tally in the bottom of the frame. Senior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) and Todoschuk led off with consecutive walks. Three batters later, Klockowski singled through the left side to score Kossina and knot the score at 1-1.

The Flyers then took control by scoring nine runs over the next four innings, including a four-run outburst in the third inning, to build a 10-1 cushion. The Bearcats cut the deficit to 10-4 by plating three runs in the sixth inning. Klockowski led off with a double and junior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) drew a walk to start the inning. Freshman catcher Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) followed two batters later with an RBI single down the right field line to bring home Klockowski. Freshman outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) then added a run-scoring single before Todoschuk capped the uprising with an RBI single to left-center field.

Tolliver led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo home run over the left field fence to bring the Bearcats within 10-5. Lewis then put the game out of reach by adding two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings.

Senior right-hander Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb) was tapped for his first loss of the season on the mound for McKendree. Dallesasse gave up seven earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts over three innings of work.

Lewis (22-21, 14-15 GLVC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the first two innings before McKendree got into the scoring column in the third inning. Freshman catcher Nathan Micklautz (Louisville, IL/North Clay) started the inning when he singled to center field. Micklautz moved to second on a walk by freshman outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw), took third on a fielder's choice and scored when junior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) reached on an infield single.

The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, with the Bearcats' tally coming on a double by Klockowski, single by Rutledge and an RBI groundout off the bat of Micklautz. The Flyers then opened up a 10-2 lead with two runs in the fifth inning and three more in the top of the seventh.

McKendree closed out the scoring with two runs thanks to a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Todoschuk doubled to left field before Kline reached on an infield single. Tolliver then drove a ball off the left-field fence for a two-run double to account for the final margin in the nightcap.

Sophomore left-hander Sam Lidisky (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) was nicked for the game two loss for the Bearcats. In five innings, Lidisky allowed seven earned runs on just five hits while fanning five batters.