Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., May 3)—The McKendree University baseball team battled to the finish in both games of its Senior Day doubleheader on Sunday with Bellarmine University, but the visiting Knights came away with a pair of wins. Bellarmine rallied to take the opener 9-7 before holding off a late McKendree comeback in game two, 10-7.
 
McKendree ends its 2015 season with an overall record of 9-38. The Bearcats went 8-28 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. With its two wins, Bellarmine finished 26-19 and 20-16 in the GLVC. The Knights were able to grab the third and final automatic qualifying spot from the East Division in next week's GLVC Tournament.
 
Following the first game of Sunday's twin bill, McKendree honored its seven senior players in a special ceremony – infielder Pierce Borah (Mt. Vernon, IL/Mt. Vernon), infielder Jason Hobson (Griggsville, IL/Griggsville-Perry), pitcher Vince Kiefer (Lenzburg, IL/New Athens), third baseman Jake Kline (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North), outfielder Kyle Rutledge (Bloomington, IL/Normal), pitcher Matt Sax (Chicago, IL/Jones Prep) and first baseman Jeff Tolliver (Salem, IL/Salem).
 
Against Bellarmine, freshman outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) had a big day at the plate with five hits while driving in five runs – including four in the opener. Sophomore catcher Kyle Jackson (Hoffman, IL/Carlyle) notched a career-high with a four-hit performance in the nightcap while driving in a pair of runs. Playing in their final collegiate games, Borah and Tolliver each blasted home runs in the second game, while Rutledge added two hits and two runs scored in game two.
 
In game one, Bellarmine jumped out to a 6-0 lead after four innings of play before McKendree put together a two-inning rally to storm to a 7-6 lead in the sixth. The Bearcats started their comeback with three runs in the fifth inning to pull within 6-3. Bellarmine starting pitcher Alex Mercer took a no-hitter into the frame, but ran into a jam when Kline reached on an error leading off the frame and sophomore outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) drew a two-out walk. Groleau stepped in next and drove the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a three-run home run that was the Bearcats' first hit of the game.
 
McKendree then batted around while plating four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take their first lead of the day. Rutledge began the inning with a single before sophomore first baseman Zach Klockowski (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) reached on a walk. Two batters later, Kline was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Following a pitching change, Rutledge, sophomore outfielder J.J. Witherow (Manteno, IL/Manteno) – who came in to run for Klockowski – and Kline all scored on wild pitches within a span of six pitches to tie the game at 6-6.
 
Groleau then capped the rally with a two-out, RBI single up the middle to score junior catcher Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington), who also walked in the inning, to push McKendree out in front by a run. The lead was short-lived, however, as Bellarmine rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to grab a 9-7 advantage. The Bearcats did get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but the Knights' Griffin Neuer was able to notch the final out to preserve the win.
 
Freshman right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) scattered eight hits and allowed six runs over the first five innings for McKendree while striking out four. Sax was charged with the loss in relief for the Bearcats.
 
Borah gave McKendree a 1-0 lead in the second inning of game two when he belted his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field leading off the frame. Bellarmine rallied with three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead before the Bearcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to regain a 5-3 advantage. McKendree needed only two pitches to tie the game at 3-3 when Rutledge led off with a single and Tolliver ripped the next pitch inside the left-field foul pole for a two-run homer.
 
Kline followed with a double to left-center field and scored the go-ahead run at 4-3 thanks to an RBI single off the bat of Jackson. After moving to second on a ground out and third on a wild pitch, Jackson scored the final run of the inning when Groleau delivered an RBI single to left field.
 
Bellarmine took the lead for good with a four-run sixth inning to bounce back in front at 7-5. McKendree scratched out a run in the bottom of the sixth at 7-6 when Rutledge doubled deep to left-center field and eventually scored on a double play grounder. The Knights added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to build a 9-6 lead when McKendree scored its final run of the season in the bottom of the eighth. Three seniors combined to load the bases as Tolliver drew a one-out walk, Kline was hit by a pitch and Borah singled to left field. Jackson brought Tolliver home with an infield single to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 9-7.
 
After a Knights' run in the top of the ninth extended the visitor's lead back to three runs, McKendree put together one final rally in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Anderson singled and Klockowski walked to bring the tying run to the plate. But Bellarmine was once again able to record the final out, thwarting the Bearcats' rally and help the Knights complete the sweep.
 
Freshman right-hander Logan Zachry (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) was nicked for the game two loss, giving up four earned runs on six hits with a walk and strikeout over 5 2/3 innings of work.