Box Score (ROLLA, Mo., March 9)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision in the rubber game of a three-game series Monday afternoon at Missouri S & T.
The Bearcats led twice during the nine-inning contest, but the host Miners scored in each of their last three at-bats to rally and pull away for the victory. McKendree, now 1-5 on the season, is scheduled to play its 2015 home opener Wednesday afternoon against Harris-Stowe State University. First pitch at Hypes Field is set for 2 p.m.
Junior infielder
Adam Kunkel (Red Bud, IL/Red Bud), junior catcher
Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington) and senior outfielder
Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) each had two hits on the day for McKendree. Senior infielder
Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) provided the big hit of the day, a two-out, two-run single that pushed the Bearcats out to their first lead of the day in the third inning.
Missouri S & T (3-5) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning before McKendree used a two-out rally to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Kunkel started the uprising when he was hit by a pitch. Davault followed with a single to left field before Rutledge was also hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kline stepped up next and ripped a two-run single up the middle to plate Kunkel and Davault with the first runs of the afternoon for the Bearcats.
The Miners scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the third regain a 3-2 advantage when McKendree answered with a single run in the fourth to knot the contest at 3-3. Again, it was another two-out rally that led to the Bearcats' run. Sophomore outfielder
Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) singled up the middle before sophomore infielder
Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) and sophomore catcher
Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) each drew a walk to load the bases once again. Kunkel followed with another walk to force home Roberts with the tying run.
McKendree took its final lead of the day at 4-3 with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore outfielder
Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior infielder
Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon). Two batters later, Boehne delivered a run-scoring single to right field to bring home Anderson.
Missouri S & T quickly tied the game with a run in the bottom half of the sixth, then scratched out another run in the seventh to take the lead for good at 5-4. The Miners added a pair of unearned insurance runs in the eighth inning to take control.
Sophomore left-hander
Brad Henry (Godfrey, IL/Alton) drew the start and worked five innings. He allowed one earned run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Freshman right-hander
Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) was nicked for the loss for the Bearcats, allowing two earned runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts over two innings.
