(MONTEVALLO, Ala., Feb. 18)—The McKendree University baseball team overcame an early 5-0 deficit, but could not contain the University of Montevallo in a 12-8 loss Saturday afternoon to the host Falcons in game two of a three-game series in Alabama.
 
Montevallo took the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab a 9-5 advantage, then held off McKendree over the final few innings to collect the victory. The Bearcats are now 0-2 on the young season and will look to salvage the final game of the season-opening, non-conference series against the Falcons Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon.
 
Senior infielder Cody Hall (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) led McKendree with two hits, including a double, along with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Sophomore infielder Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) also had two hits against Montevallo, while senior outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) blasted the Bearcats' first home run of the 2017 season, a two-run shot in the fifth inning.
 
After McKendree was retired in order in the top of the first inning, Montevallo (8-2) collected four runs in the bottom of the frame for an early 4-0 advantage. The Falcons then added another tally in the second inning off senior right-hander Terry Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) to push its lead to 5-0.
 
McKendree answered by scoring five times in the top of the third inning to knot the contest at 5-5. Junior catcher Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) reached on an error to start the inning. Aydt and junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) followed with consecutive singles to load the bases. Sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) got the Bearcats on the scoreboard with an RBI single to bring home DeLaVega to trim the deficit to 5-1.
 
Hall stepped in next and delivered a two-run single to left-center field that scored Aydt and Bodine to bring McKendree within 5-3. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Groleau plated Bodine to get the Bearcats within a run, and senior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) capped the outburst with an infield single that scored Hall with the tying run.
 
The Falcons countered with four more runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead at 9-5. In the top of the fifth inning, Hall led off with a double before Groleau lifted a 2-1 pitch over the right-field fence to help McKendree rally within 10-7. The Bearcats had a chance to tie the game a second time in the seventh inning, bringing the tying run to the plate twice in the frame. However, Montevallo was able to work out of the jam and maintain its three-run lead.
 
After the Falcons scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh to stretch its margin to 12-7, McKendree looked to put together one final rally in the ninth. Senior infielder Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) singled with two outs before Fisher reached on an error. Senior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) doubled down the right-field line to score Walsh with an unearned run. But Montevallo (8-2) was able to register the final out to earn its seventh consecutive win.
 
Terry Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) was nicked for the loss on the mound, allowing eight earned runs in 2 1/3 innings of work with a walk and a strikeout.