(LEBANON, Ill., March 5)—The McKendree University baseball team grabbed its first two wins of the 2016 season on Saturday by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader at home from Missouri S&T. The Bearcats posted a 7-4 win in the opener before taking game two by a 5-1 score.
 
McKendree, which was making its home debut for the 2016 season at Hypes Field, moves to 2-7 on the year. The Bearcats and Miners will close out a three-game, non-conference weekend series with a nine-inning contest on Sunday, with first pitch set for noon.
 
Juniors Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) and Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) each had solid efforts on the mound to help fuel the doubleheader sweep for McKendree. Cates tossed the first six innings in game one, allowing just three hits and one earned run with a walk and three strikeouts. Rogers followed in the nightcap by throwing the Bearcats' first complete game of the year. Rogers scattered six hits and struck out three while giving up just one earned run in his seven-inning outing.
 
Senior left-hander Sam Lidisky (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) also figured prominently into the mix on the mound for McKendree in game one. Lidisky threw the final three innings to collect the save in the opener.
 
Junior outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) and freshman infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) each had three hits on the day to help lead the offensive attack for McKendree. Junior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) went 3-for-4 in game one with a pair of RBIs.
 
McKendree jumped out quickly, scoring three times in the first inning of the opener to take a 3-0 lead. Sophomore outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) and Johnson started the frame with consecutive singles. Rogers, who played first game in game one, opened the scoring with an RBI single to plate Groleau. The Bearcats then loaded the bases before Johnson scored on a Missouri S&T error for a 2-0 advantage. Junior infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) then brought Rogers home with an RBI groundout.
 
After Missouri S&T (8-2) scored single runs in the second and third innings to pull within 3-2, McKendree erupted for four runs in the bottom of the third to stretch its margin to 7-2. Cates and Anderson singled to begin the rally. Following a fielder's choice, junior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) singled to load the bases. Deaville stepped up next and ripped a two-run single to center field to push the Bearcats out to a 5-2 lead.
 
Johnson and junior outfielder Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) each added run-scoring singles to give McKendree a five-run advantage. The Miners chipped away at the deficit with runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull within three runs, but Lidisky was able to prevent a Missouri S&T comeback by finishing off his three-inning save.
 
Missouri S&T took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the nightcap, but McKendree bounced back in the second inning to knot the score. Junior infielder Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) started the inning with a single before he was forced out at second when Cates reached on a fielder's choice. Cates then stole second base and scored when senior catcher Connor Davault (Farmington, MO/Farmington) reached on a Miners' error.
 
McKendree took the lead for good at 4-1 by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Anderson started things when he doubled off the glove of the Miners' third baseman. Davault followed with a single to put runners at the corners when Fisher drove a pitch into right field for an RBI single to plate Anderson with the go-ahead run. Davault advance to third on Fisher's single and scored when senior infielder Adam Kunkel (Red Bud, IL/Red Bud) dropped down a safety squeeze bunt. Johnson finished off the uprising with an RBI single.
 
The Bearcats closed the scoring on the day with a run in the sixth inning. Cates reached on an error and Anderson followed with a single. McKendree then executed a double-steal and Cates was able to score when the throw to third base sailed into left field.