Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., April 29)—The McKendree University baseball team opened its final home stand of the 2015 season Wednesday with a 7-5 loss in non-conference play against Quincy University.
The visiting Hawks broke a 5-5 tie by scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning to collect the victory. McKendree moves to 9-35 on the year and will entertain Bellarmine University this weekend for the Bearcats' final Great Lakes Valley Conference series of the season. The Bearcats and Knights will kick off their series with a doubleheader Saturday at Hypes Field with first pitch set for noon.
Freshman outfielder
Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) had RBI hits in each of his first two at-bats on Wednesday for McKendree, including a third-inning double. Senior third baseman
Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) and junior catcher
Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington) each drove in a run in the contest for the Bearcats.
Quincy (32-14) scored a run in the top of the first inning before McKendree tied things with its own run in the bottom of the frame. Junior shortstop
Adam Kunkel (Red Bud, IL/Red Bud) reached base on a one-out single. Kunkel then moved to third on consecutive wild pitches and scored when Groleau lined an RBI single to center field.
McKendree took its only lead of the afternoon at 2-1 in the third inning. With one out, Kunkel drew a walk and reached second base on another wild pitch. Groleau stepped in and belted a run-scoring double to deep right-center field to plate Kunkel with the go-ahead run. The Hawks responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning to grab a 5-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, McKendree took advantage of a Quincy error to rally for three runs to tie the game at 5-5. Senior outfielder
Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) and Kunkel collected walks to start the inning. Groleau then reached on a fielder's choice which forced Kunkel at second base. Groleau stole second base before Kline reached on an error to drive home Rutledge with the first run of the inning. Sophomore first baseman
Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
Following a Quincy pitching change, Davault reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Groleau and cut the McKendree deficit to 5-4. Kline then raced home with the tying run thanks to a wild pitch to close out the rally for the Bearcats. The 5-5 score stood until the top of the ninth inning, when Quincy loaded the bases and used a two-run single from Dominic Miles to take the lead for good.
Junior left-hander
Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County) pitched well in relief despite being charged with the loss for McKendree. Tonozzi went 4 2/3 innings, scattering eight hits and allowing two earned runs. He struck out three and did not walk a batter in an 89-pitch outing.
