(LEBANON, Ill., March 6)—The McKendree University baseball team closed out a three-game weekend sweep of Missouri S&T thanks to a 17-14 victory Sunday afternoon at Hypes Field.
 
The Bearcats and Miners combined for 38 hits – 19 for each team -- on a windy afternoon at Hypes Field. With the victory, McKendree improves to 3-7 on the year and will continue its home stand Tuesday afternoon with a non-conference game against Harris-Stowe State University. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
 
Junior first baseman Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) led the offensive attack for the Bearcats with four hits, including a two-run home run in the first inning. Senior infielder Adam Kunkel (Red Bud, IL/Red Bud) went 3-for-3 on the day and scored four times, while five other McKendree players rapped out two hits apiece. Junior outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw), who was among the quintet with two hits, belted a three-run homer during a six-run second inning for the Bearcats.
 
Missouri S&T (8-3) grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning before McKendree answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) was hit by a pitch and freshman infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) singled to open the inning. Johnson was forced out when junior outfielder Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) bounced into a fielder's choice, but a throwing error on the play brought home Groleau with the Bearcats' first run of the day.
 
Rogers stepped up next and lifted the first pitch of his at-bat over the left-field fence for a two-run shot to give McKendree a 3-2 lead. It was Rogers' second home run of the season.
 
The second inning featured 11 runs as Missouri S&T opened the frame with five runs to regain the lead at 7-3. McKendree then sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second during its six-run outburst to take the lead for good at 9-7. Junior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) and Kunkel started the rally with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Johnson walked to load the bases. Calhoun then drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Deaville with the first run of the inning.
 
With two outs, junior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) stepped in and delivered a two-run single to left field to trim the Bearcats' deficit to 7-6. Five pitches later, Anderson drilled a three-run home run to left to cap the scoring in the inning to push McKendree in front by two runs. Kunkel led off the third inning with a double and eventually scored on a wild pitch to extend the Bearcats' advantage to 10-7.
 
McKendree added to its lead with two more runs in the fourth inning to build a 12-7 cushion. Rogers led off the inning with a single and scored when junior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) hit into a fielder's choice. The Bearcats loaded the bases once again before Deaville was hit by a pitch to force home the other run of the frame.
 
After the Miners scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull within 12-9, McKendree plated two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain a five-run advantage. Fisher led off with an infield single and Kunkel worked a one-out walk. After both runners moved up a base on a passed ball, Fisher scored when Groleau dropped an RBI single down the left-field line. Johnson came up next and laid down a squeeze bunt to bring home Kunkel, giving the Bearcats a 14-9 lead.
 
Missouri S&T trimmed its deficit to 14-13 with four runs in the top of the eighth inning. McKendree found an answer once again with a two-out, three-run rally to take a 17-13 lead. The Bearcats strung together three consecutive singles, with the final one by Groleau bringing home Deaville to give McKendree an insurance run at 15-13. Groleau and Kunkel came around to score on a Miners' error to give the Bearcats a four-run lead heading to the top of the ninth. Missouri S&T scored a run its final at-bat, but junior right-hander Matt Henning (Wichita, KS/Bishop Carroll) was able to induce a game-ending pop fly to collect his first save of the year for McKendree.
 
Senior left-hander Josh Tonozzi (Mark, IL/Putnam County) tossed 4 1/3 innings in relief to earn the mound victory for the Bearcats. Tonozzi scattered eight hits and allowed an earned run while striking out two batters.