(LEBANON, Ill., April 29)—The McKendree University baseball team registered its first doubleheader sweep of 2014 in the final two home games of the season Tuesday against Quincy University. The Bearcats rallied for an 8-7 victory in game one before holding off the Hawks in the nightcap, 9-8.

McKendree has now won three of its last four games to improve to 17-28 on the year. The Bearcats will hit the road for their final five games of the 2014 season, beginning with a non-conference contest Wednesday at Maryville University. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Junior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) led a group of offensive standouts for McKendree with three hits in each contest while driving in six runs. Junior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) broke loose for five hits and five runs scored, while senior outfielder Steven Todoschuk (Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada/Saltfleet) contributed four hits. Freshman infielder Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) had three hits in the opener, including a three-run home run that tied the game during a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.

In game one, Quincy jumped out to a 4-0 lead before McKendree cut the deficit with three runs in the fourth inning. Klockowki and Kline started the rally with consecutive singles before Rutledge drove home Klockowski with an RBI double to get the Bearcats on the scoreboard. Two batters later, freshman catcher Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) laced a two-run single to center field to score Kline and Rutledge to bring McKendree within 4-3.

The Hawks plated two runs in the fifth inning and added another in the top of the sixth to build a 7-3 advantage. McKendree answered in the bottom of the sixth as Kline led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored thanks to an RBI triple off the bat of Rutledge.

Freshman outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) started the Bearcats' comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning when he reached on a bunt single. Todoschuk followed with a single to get the tying run to the plate. Two batters later, Klockowski worked the count full before driving a pitch over the center field fence to tie the game at 7-7.

After Klockowski's homer, Kline doubled to the right field fence. Rutledge then collected an infield single to move Kline to third base. Junior infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) came to the plate and hit a high bouncer to first base. Kline broke on contact and beat the throw to the plate to cap the comeback and give McKendree the game one victory.

Freshman right-hander Austin Starkweather (Herrin, IL/Herrin) pitched the final two innings for McKendree to pick up his first career victory. Starkweather allowed one run on one hit with a pair of walks.

McKendree struck for a run in the bottom of the first inning of game two as senior shortstop Tony Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) led off with a single, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Todoschuk. The Bearcats added a run in the fourth to stretch the lead to 2-0 as Klockowski walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score thanks to a RBI single off the bat of Rutledge.

Quincy (22-24) responded by scoring four times in the top of the fifth inning to grab a 4-2 lead. McKendree answered the Hawks' uprising by plating five runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead at 7-4. With one out, Todoschuk and junior first baseman Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) posted back-to-back singles before Klockowski drew a walk to load the bases. Kline then ripped a two-run single into left field to tie the game at 4-4.

Rutledge followed with a run-scoring double to plate Klockowski with the go-ahead run, putting McKendree back in front at 5-4. Freshman infielder Justin Becker (Bartelso, IL/Breese Central) closed out the rally with a two-run double to give the Bearcats a three-run cushion.

The Hawks rallied with two runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull within 7-6 before a thunderstorm forced a 33-minute delay in the contest. When play resumed, McKendree counted the Quincy rally with two runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth to regain a three-run lead at 9-6. Rutledge again provided the big hit for the Bearcats with a two-run single to right field.

In the top of the seventh, Quincy scored twice to pull within 9-8 and had the potential tying run at second base. But senior right-hander Cole Wille (Maryville, IL/Collinsville) retired the final Hawks' hitter to collect his first save of the season. Sophomore right-hander A.J. Wise (Troy, IL/Triad) picked up the win in relief for McKendree.