(LOUISVIILLE, Ky., April 3)—The McKendree University baseball team was defeated twice on Sunday at Bellarmine University, falling in both ends of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader in Louisville, Ky. The host Knights rolled to a 5-1 victory in the opener before rallying past the Bearcats to complete the four-game weekend sweep, 6-5.
 
The losses leave McKendree with an overall record of 10-17 and a 2-6 mark in the GLVC. The Bearcats will return to Hypes Field Wednesday afternoon for a non-conference game against Maryville University. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
 
Junior first baseman Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) had a big day at the plate on Sunday for McKendree. Walsh had four hits – two in each contest – while driving five of the Bearcats' six runs on the day. Junior third baseman Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) had a pair of hits and scored twice in the nightcap.
 
Bellarmine (13-13, 5-3 GLVC) rode the strength of a complete-game four-hitter from Michael Messier to post the game one victory. Messier allowed one unearned run with a walk and six strikeouts in his seven-inning outing. The Knights took the lead early, plating four runs in the first inning before adding another tally in the fourth.
 
McKendree scored its lone run of the first game in the sixth inning. Freshman shortstop Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) drew a walk to lead off the frame and moved to second base on a passed ball. Johnson reached third on a groundout and came home to score when Walsh grounded out to shortstop.
 
Walsh provided the big blow in the first inning of game two with a three-run home run to left field, giving McKendree a quick 3-0 advantage. The Bearcats made it 4-0 in the top of the third when Fisher opened the inning with a single, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by junior first baseman Keith Rogers (Marshall, IL/Marshall) and scored thanks to an RBI single off the bat of junior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul).
 
Bellarmine cut the Bearcats' lead in half in the bottom of the third by scoring twice to pull within 4-2. McKendree scored its final run of the contest in the top of the fifth inning. Rogers ripped a one-out double to left-center field, and Walsh followed with an RBI double to left. The Knights answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to scratch back within 5-3. Bellarmine tied the contest with two runs in the seventh inning before plating the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Sophomore right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) scattered eight hits over seven innings of work in game two. Yung allowed five earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts. Junior left-hander Dylan Salsman (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) was charged with the loss in relief, giving up one run in one-third innings on the mound.