(MONTEVALLO, Ala., Feb. 19)—The McKendree University baseball team broke into the win column for the 2017 season on Sunday afternoon thanks to a 13-6 victory in the finale of a three-game series at the University of Montevallo.
 
The Bearcats wiped out an early four-run deficit by scoring multiple runs in four of the last five innings to pull away for the victory and end a seven-game win streak for the host Falcons. The win also marked the first at McKendree for first-year head coach Danny Jackson, who was named to head the Bearcats' program last May.
 
McKendree, now 1-2 overall, will have a few days off before heading to Springfield, Mo., next weekend for a four-game, non-conference series at Drury University. The Bearcats and Panthers will open the series Friday at 3 p.m., before a doubleheader Saturday and a single contest on Sunday.
 
Senior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) enjoyed a big day at the plate for McKendree, going 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs batted in while scoring three times. Sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) added two hits and a pair of RBIs, while junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) – who entered the contest as a pinch-runner in the fifth inning – went 2-for-2 to aid the Bearcats' 10-hit attack.
 
Senior right-hander Matt Wasche (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for McKendree, allowing just one earned run on two hits in three-plus innings of work. Wasche fanned two batters in the outing before giving way to senior right-hander Matt Henning (Wichita, KS/Bishop Carroll), who recorded the final six outs to preserve the win for the Bearcats.
 
Sunday's game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the third inning. Montevallo (8-3) nicked McKendree starter Brad Henry (Godfrey, IL/Alton) for two runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to build a 4-0 advantage. The Bearcats responded by tying the game with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Cates opened the inning with a single before senior outfielder Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) reached on a fielder's choice. Johnson stepped in next and ripped a run-scoring single to score Cates with the Bearcats' first run of the day.
 
Senior infielder Cody Hall (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) walked to load the bases before junior outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) delivered the big hit of the frame, a two-run double to right-center field to trim the McKendree deficit to 4-3. Hall later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior infielder Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South) to knot the contest at 4-4.
 
McKendree then took the lead for good with a three-run outburst in the top of the sixth inning for a 7-4 advantage. Senior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) started things with a bunt single before Cates drew a walk. Junior catcher Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, and the throw by the Montevallo pitcher sailed down the left-field line to bring home Fisher with the go-ahead run. Johnson delivered another run-scoring single and DeLaVega scored following a double play grounder to cap the frame for the Bearcats.
 
In the seventh, McKendree tacked on two more runs to stretch its lead to 9-4. Walsh led off with a walk and moved around to third base on a pair of wild pitches. Senior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) then drew a walk, and Walsh raced home when ball four eluded the Falcons' catcher for another wild pitch. Deaville later scored following another double play grounder to give the Bearcats their five-run cushion.
 
After Montevallo scratched out a run to pull within 9-5 in the bottom of the eighth, McKendree put the game away by scoring four times in the top of the ninth. Walsh and Deaville were both hit by pitches to start the inning, and junior infielder Jeff Wetzler (Newburgh, IN/Castle) worked a walk to load the bases. After a pitching change, Cates belted a bases-clearing triple down the right-field line. Cates then scored the final run of the day for McKendree thanks to an RBI single off the bat of Bodine. Montevallo capped the scoring with a run in the bottom of the ninth off Henning.