(LEBANON, Ill., March 19)—The McKendree University baseball team overcame an early four-run deficit to post a 9-5 victory Saturday morning at Hypes Field against Rockhurst University.
 
The Bearcats trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, but battled its way back to earn the win in the opener of a three-game series with the Hawks. McKendree improves to 6-11 on the year and will host Rockhurst Sunday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Junior first baseman Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) and junior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) each had three hits to pace McKendree. Rogers drove in a pair of runs, while Fisher scored twice in the effort. Junior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) rapped out two hits on the day as freshman infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) crossed the plate times.
 
Rockhurst (8-9) jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning and an unearned run in the top of the third for a 4-0 advantage. McKendree began its comeback with a two-out, two-run rally in the bottom of the third. Junior outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) started the uprising with a double to left-center field. After a walk to Johnson, Roberts came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Fisher. Rogers stepped in next and delivered a run-scoring single to right field to bring home Johnson and trim the Bearcats' deficit to 4-2.
 
After the Hawks got a solo home run from Seth Soto in the top of the fifth to regain a 5-2 advantage, McKendree tied the contest with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson drew a one-out walk before Fisher singled to left field. Rogers lifted an RBI double to left-center field to score Johnson with the first run of the outburst. On the next pitch, freshman first baseman Joe LaCivita (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove South) ripped a run-scoring single up the middle to plate Fisher, bringing the Bearcats within 5-4.
 
Junior outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) capped the rally with his RBI single to right field that allowed Rogers to score with the tying run, knotting the contest at 5-5.
 
McKendree took the lead for good at 7-5 with two runs in the seventh inning. Again, it was a two-out rally that sparked the Bearcats. Anderson drew a walk, and sophomore outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) came in as a pinch-runner. Deaville followed with a single and senior catcher Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington) – who entered the game as a pinch-hitter – was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Junior infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) then hit a bouncer that was thrown away for a two-run error, pushing the Bearcats out to their two-run lead.
 
Groleau, who remained in the game to play center field, provided insurance for McKendree with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Bearcats a four-run cushion.
 
Junior right-hander Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) scattered 12 hits over seven innings to pick up the victory on the mound for McKendree. Cates allowed four earned runs, did not walk a batter and struck out one. Senior left-hander Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County) held the Hawks in check in the eighth inning before junior right-hander Matt Henning (Wichita, KS/Bishop Carroll) got the final three outs for the Bearcats.