(JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn., Feb. 27)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Carson-Newman University. The host Eagles posted an 8-1 victory in the opener before a late McKendree rally came up just short as Carson-Newman finished off the sweep with a 5-4 win.
 
McKendree is now 0-6 on the season. The Bearcats and Eagles will close out their four-game weekend series with a nine-inning contest Sunday afternoon at 12 noon ET in Jefferson City, Tenn.
 
Junior outfielder Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) collected three hits on the day for McKendree, including a solo home run in game one that accounted for the Bearcats' lone tally. Carson-Newman (8-5) built a 5-0 leads with three runs in the first inning of the opener and three more runs in the third. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Calhoun ripped the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence to get the Bearcats on the scoreboard. The Eagles put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Junior infielder Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) and freshman infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) each had two hits in game one against Carson-Newman. Junior left-hander Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) took the loss on the mound for the Bearcats. Rogers worked seven innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
 
In the nightcap, Carson-Newman controlled the tempo again in the early stages, scoring two runs in the first inning to grab an early lead. McKendree cut the deficit in half in the third inning. Senior catcher Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington) reached on a one-out single. Two batters later, Johnson drew a walk before Rogers brought home Davault with an RBI single, bringing the Bearcats within 2-1.
 
Carson-Newman stretched its advantage to 5-1 with a three-run outburst in the fifth inning before McKendree rallied in its final at-bat. The Bearcats plated three runs in the top of the seventh to rally within 5-4. Junior infielder started the rally with a walk before Davault and Calhoun followed with back-to-back singles. Johnson then laced a run-scoring single down the left-field line to bring home Boehne and trim the deficit to 5-2.
 
Rogers provided the big blow of the inning with a two-run single to help the Bearcats get within a single run. However, the Eagles were able to snuff out the McKendree rally to hold on for the doubleheader sweep.
 
 Calhoun and Rogers each finished with two hits in game two for McKendree. Senior left-hander Sam Lidisky (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) was nicked for the pitching loss for the Bearcats. Lidisky scattered eight hits over five innings while allowing five earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts.