(LEBANON, Ill., April 27)—The McKendree University baseball team broke loose for 25 hits on its way to a doubleheader split Sunday at home against Lewis University. The Bearcats rolled to a 12-3 win in game one before a late rally came up short in an 11-8 loss in the nightcap.

The split, which came on Senior Day at Hypes Field, leaves McKendree with an overall record of 15-28. The Bearcats are now 10-22 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. McKendree is scheduled to close out the home portion of its 2014 season Tuesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Quincy University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Fittingly, it was a pair of seniors that helped lead McKendree to the game one victory. Outfielder Steven Todoschuk (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Saltfleet) was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, with two doubles and two home runs and six runs batted in. Todoshuck's second round-tripper was a grand slam that highlighted an eight-run outburst in the fifth inning.

Shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) had two hits and scored a pair of runs. Kossina reached on an infield single and scored to open a four-run third inning that put the Bearcats in front for good.

Junior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) had four hits on the day, including a three-hit performance with a solo home run in the second game, while junior first baseman Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) and freshman outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) also collected three hits apiece in the nightcap. Junior infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) had two hits and three RBI in the opener for McKendree.

Lewis (23-22, 15-16 GLVC) scored two runs in the second inning before a lightning delay forced a 58-minute break in the action. When play resumed in the top of the third inning, the Flyers' Jake Murray hit a solo home run to push the Lewis lead to 3-0.

McKendree responded by scoring four times in the bottom of the third to grab its first lead of the day at 4-3. Kossina led off with his infield single before Todoschuk belted his first home run of the game, a two-run shot to left center, to bring the Bearcats within 3-2. McKendree then put two runners on with two outs before junior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) lifted an RBI single down the right-field line to tie the contest at 3-3. Borah stepped up next and ripped a run-scoring single to center field to cap the four-run rally.

In the fifth inning, the Bearcats put the game out of reach by sending 11 batters to the plate in its eight-run uprising. Kline opened the frame with a single and Borah was hit by a pitch. Freshman catcher Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) then put down a successful sacrifice bunt, but an overthrow on a play at third base allowed Kline to score the first run of the inning.

A walk to Kossina loaded the bases when freshman outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) made it 6-3 with an RBI single to center field. Todoschuk stepped up next and drove the first pitch of the at-bat over the left-center field fence for a grand slam and a 10-3 McKendree lead. Borah closed out the scoring in the fifth inning with a two-run single to give the Bearcats a nine-run advantage.

From there, sophomore left-hander Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County) was able to hold Lewis in check. Tonozzi pitched all seven innings to register his first complete game of the season. Tonozzi allowed seven hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts.

McKendree controlled the early innings of game two, building a 5-0 lead after three innings. Rutledge reached on a one-out single in the first inning and came around to score on an RBI single by Kline to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. The lead grew to 4-0 lead as McKendree tacked on three runs in the second inning. Freshman infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) and Anderson opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Three batters later, Rutledge ripped a run-scoring double to left field to plate Boehne with the first run of the inning. The final two runs then scored on a Lewis error.

Boehne walked and stole second base with one out in the third inning. He moved to third on a single by Anderson and came around to score when Kossina reached on an infield single, giving the Bearcats a 5-0 advantage.

Lewis bounced back by scoring 11 unanswered runs over a five-inning span to take an 11-5 lead after eight innings. McKendree put together one final rally, scoring three times and getting the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. Rutledge lifted a solo home run over the left field fence to start the frame. A walk to Todoschuk, a single by Tolliver and a Flyers' error loaded the bases before senior catcher Kolton King (Marion, IL/Marion) reached on an RBI fielder's choice to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 11-7.

Anderson kept the inning alive with a two-out single that scored Tolliver to bring McKendree within three runs. But Lewis starter Brad Elmore was able to record the final out with two runners on base to give the Flyers a split of the twinbill.

Sophomore right-hander A.J. Wise (Troy, IL/Triad) was nicked for the loss in relief for McKendree. In 1 1/3 innings of work, Wise gave up two earned runs on three hits.

Between games, McKendree honored the seven seniors closing out their final seasons with the Bearcats. That group included Todoschuk, Kossina, King, catcher Tyler Collins (Marietta, GA/Walker), and pitchers Ben Dallesasse (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb), Jon Trampe (Collinsville, IL/Metro East Lutheran) and Cole Wille (Maryville, IL/Collinsville).