(LEBANON, Ill., April 16)—McKendree University junior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) only had one swing in the Bearcats' doubleheader Saturday at Hypes Field against the University of Southern Indiana, but it provided the biggest hit of the day.
 
Cates belted a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of game two in propelling McKendree to a split of its twinbill with the Screaming Eagles. The game two victory pushed the Bearcats to 13-21 overall and 5-9 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. McKendree and Southern Indiana will close out their four-game weekend series with another doubleheader Sunday afternoon in Lebanon. First pitch is set for noon.
 
Junior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) rapped out four hits on the day, including three in the nightcap. Junior outfielder Grant Anderson (Mackinaw, IL/Deer Creek-Mackinaw) added three hits, including a two-run home run in the fifth inning of the second contest, while driving in four runs. Junior infielder Tyson Boehne (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) also provided a big two-out, two-run single in the Bearcats' four-run third inning of game two.
 
McKendree overcame a pair of three-run deficits in game two and forced extra innings when Anderson ripped a one-out RBI single to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning to knot the contest at 8-8. The Bearcats loaded the bases one inning later, but Southern Indiana wiggled out of trouble to send the game into the ninth. After junior right-hander Matt Henning (Wichita, KS/Bishop Carroll) worked his third scoreless frame in the top of the ninth, Cates provided the heroics when he belted a 1-0 pitch deep over the left field fence for his second round-tripper of the year and touch off a McKendree celebration at home plate.
 
Southern Indiana (20-14, 9-5 GLVC) opened game two by scoring three runs in the top of the second inning before McKendree answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Junior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) singled to left field before Boehne followed with a base hit. The ball skipped past the USI left fielder, allowing Deaville to score from first base.
 
The Bearcats took their first lead of the day by scoring four times in the third inning for a 5-3 advantage. Fisher opened the scoring with an RBI triple down the left field line. On the next pitch with the Screaming Eagles' infield drawn in, junior first baseman Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) blooped a single into short right field to score Fisher with the tying run. McKendree eventually loaded the bases when Boehne stepped up and drilled a two-run single to left field to put the Bearcats in front.
 
The Screaming Eagles regained the lead at 8-5 by plating three runs in the fourth and two more in the top of the fifth. Anderson blasted his two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the fifth to get McKendree within 8-7 before Anderson followed two innings later with his game-tying RBI single.
 
McKendree nearly stole both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, rallying from a 7-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning of the opener with six runs in the last frame. The Bearcats sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring the first five runs before an out was recorded. Sophomore outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) started the uprising with a double to deep center field. A pinch-hit single by freshman first baseman Joe LaCivita (Downers Grove, IL/Downers Grove South) moved Groleau to third, and freshman infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior infielder Adam Kunkel (Red Bud, IL/Red Bud) then drew a walk to force home Groleau with the first run of the inning.
 
Fisher was then hit by a pitch, and Anderson followed with a run-scoring single to trim the Bearcats' deficit to 7-3. Junior first baseman Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) worked a walk, scoring Kunkel to bring McKendree within three runs. Two pitches later, Fisher scored on a wild pitch to get the Bearcats even closer at 7-5. Two batters later, junior outfielder brought home Anderson with an RBI groundout to cut the USI lead to 7-6. But the Screaming Eagles were able to nail down the final out to preserve the victory.
 
Cates was charged with the loss on the mound for McKendree, giving up four earned runs on nine hits over five innings. Cates walked two and struck out three.