(MONTEVALLO, Ala., Feb. 17)—The McKendree University baseball team kicked off its 2017 season Friday afternoon with an 8-5 loss at the University of Montevallo.
 
A six-run second inning proved to be the difference for the host Falcons as they posted their sixth consecutive victory. McKendree and Montevallo will meet Saturday afternoon in the second game of their three-game weekend series, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
 
McKendree held a 10-8 edge in hits against Montevallo. A trio of seniors – catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) and outfielders Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) and Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) – each had a pair of hits to lead the Bearcats' offensive attack. Cates scored a pair of runs, while Deaville and Calhoun each added an RBI in the contest.
 
Sophomore left-hander Brandon Tatum (Vero Beach, FL/Vero Beach) drew the opening-day start for McKendree and worked a clean first inning. Montevallo quickly put together a rally in the second inning, using a pair of walks and a single to load the bases with no outs. A two-run double off the bat of Chad Wagner gave the Falcons the first lead of the contest at 2-0. Montevallo loaded the bases once again before Matthew Furuto belted a grand slam to complete the outburst in the frame for the Falcons.
 
In the top of the third, McKendree began to chip away at its deficit by scoring its first run of the season. Cates ripped a one-out single into right-center field for the Bearcats' first hit of the new year. After moving to second base on an errant pickoff throw, Cates scored thanks to an RBI single off the bat of Calhoun.
 
McKendree then used a two-out rally in the top of the fourth to trim the Montevallo lead to 6-3. Senior third baseman Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) laced a triple down the right-field line and sophomore infielder Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners. Deaville stepped in next and drilled a run-scoring double off the left-field fence to bring home Fisher. Aydt, who advanced to third base on Deaville's double, scored moments later on a passed ball to bring the Bearcats within three runs.
 
Montevallo (7-2) used a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead back to four runs, and added another tally in the sixth to grab an 8-3 advantage. In the top of the seventh inning, McKendree put together its biggest threat of the contest. With one out, Cates reached on a single and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Calhoun. Sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) followed with an RBI single to bring home Cates to bring the Bearcats within 8-4.
 
Later in the frame, McKendree loaded the bases with one out, but the Falcons were able to work their way out of the jam to preserve their four-run cushion. The Bearcats scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth when senior infielder Cody Hall (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) singled with two outs and scored on an outfield error by Montevallo.
 
Sophomore right-hander Brian Christianson (Mokena, IL/Lincoln-Way East) turned in a solid relief effort on the mound for McKendree. Christianson tossed the final five innings for the Bearcats, allowing just one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts. Tatum was nicked for the loss, giving up seven earned runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts in three-plus innings of work.