(JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn., Feb. 26)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped a 9-3 decision in the opener of a four-game series Friday afternoon at Carson-Newman University.
 
The Bearcats used a trio of solo home runs on the day to provide all the scoring for the visitors. McKendree moves to 0-4 on the season and will face Carson-Newman on Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 noon ET.
 
Carson-Newman (6-5) built a 6-0 lead through three innings, scoring once in the first before tacking on five runs in the third. McKendree broke through in the top of the fifth inning when junior outfielder Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) ripped his first home run of the season, a solo shot down the left-field line to trim the deficit to 5-1. Junior outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) brought the Bearcats within 5-2 thanks to another solo home run that cleared the fence in left-center field.
 
After plating a run in the bottom of the seventh to regain a 7-2 advantage, the Eagles added two more tallies in the bottom of the eight to stretch its lead to 9-2. With two outs in the top of the ninth, junior first baseman Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) closed out the scoring with a home run to right-center field.
 
Junior right-hander Terry Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) was charged with the loss on the mound for McKendree. Deaville pitched four innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout. Sophomore right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) gave up one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts in four innings of relief work for the Bearcats.