Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., April 5)—The McKendree University baseball team was defeated in both ends of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader Sunday at home against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Bearcats rallied from a seven-run deficit in the opener before dropping a 10-9 decision before the visiting Rangers collected a 13-6 win in game two.
 
McKendree and Wisconsin-Parkside split their four-game GLVC series, which opened on Saturday with a twinbill sweep by the Bearcats. McKendree is now 7-19 on the year and 6-12 in conference play. The Bearcats will step out of conference on Tuesday to play a pair of games at Quincy University. First pitch for the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
 
Trailing 8-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning of game one, McKendree put together its second-biggest inning of the season by scoring eight times in the frame to grab a 9-8 advantage. The lead stood until the top of the seventh, when UW-Parkside scored twice in its final at-bat to deny the Bearcats' comeback bid. The Rangers then jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the nightcap on its way to gaining the series split.
 
Both teams scored in the first inning of the opener. Wisconsin-Parkside struck for a pair of runs in the top of the frame before McKendree answered with a tally to cut the Rangers' lead in half. Junior shortstop Adam Kunkel (Red Bud, IL/Red Bud) started the Bearcats' half of the inning with a walk and moved to third when sophomore infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) singled down the right-field line. A double play ground ball scored Kunkel with the first run of the afternoon for McKendree.
 
UW-Parkside (8-13, 7-11 GLVC) then exploded for five runs in the second inning and another score in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 8-1. In the bottom of the fourth, McKendree's first two batters were retired in order before erupting for eight runs to take the lead for the first time. Senior infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon) drew a walk before junior outfielder John Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem) lifted a pop fly just behind the pitcher's mound. The ball eluded the Rangers' infield for a double. Sophomore first baseman Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) kept the rally going by drawing a walk to load the bases.
 
Senior third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North) stepped in next and belted a three-run double to right-center field to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 8-4. Junior catcher Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington) followed with an RBI double to plate Kline, trimming the UW-Parkside lead to three runs. Sophomore outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) then ripped the third consecutive double for McKendree to bring home Davault. Following a walk to Kunkel, Boehne blasted the Bearcats' fifth double of the inning to left-center field, chasing home Anderson to bring McKendree within 8-7.
 
Senior outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal) capped the outburst with a two-run single to left field, scoring Kunkel and Boehne to give McKendree a 9-8 lead. Wisconsin-Parkside then rallied in the seventh inning, scoring a pair of runs to regain the lead for good.
 
Freshman right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) went the final five innings for McKendree and was charged with the hard-luck loss. Yung allowed just two hits in those five innings, giving up two earned runs with four walks and four strikeouts.
 
The McKendree bats were held silent until the sixth inning after the Rangers opened up their 12-run lead. The Bearcats got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 12-2. Freshman outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) reached on a one-out single before Rutledge added another base hit and Borah was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Klockowski brought home Groleau with an RBI groundout before Rutledge scored on a wild pitch.
 
McKendree added another run in the seventh when sophomore outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) doubled off the fence in right-center field, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when sophomore infielder Justin Becker (Bartelso, IL/Breese Central) bounced into a fielder's choice. After UW-Parkside scored its final run in the top of the eighth, the Bearcats answered with three tallies in the bottom of the frame. Junior catcher Austin Avalos (Ballwin, MO/Parkway South) had the big blow of the inning, a two-run single to left field with the bases full. Senior infielder Jason Hobson (Griggsville, IL/Griggsville-Perry) scored the final run of the day for McKendree on a wild pitch.