(KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 17)—The McKendree University baseball team rode strong pitching efforts and timely hitting to sweep both ends of a non-conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at Rockhurst University. The Bearcats took the opener 5-2 before pulling away late to grab a 5-1 triumph in game two.
 
With the sweep, McKendree extends its season-high win streak to four games. The Bearcats are now 7-8 overall and will look to finish off a three-game weekend sweep against the Hawks in a nine-inning contest on Saturday. First pitch between McKendree and Rockhurst will take place at 1 p.m. in Kansas City, Mo.
 
Senior right-hander Terry Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) and junior right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) each registered a quality start in earning wins on the mound for McKendree on Friday. Deaville allowed just two earned runs on four hits over seven innings in the game one triumph for the Bearcats. Deaville walked three and fanned three batters before giving way to senior righty Matt Henning (Wichita, KS/Bishop Carroll), who struck out two batters over the final two innings to collect his second save of the year.
 
In the nightcap, Yung scattered six hits over 6 2/3 innings. He gave up just one earned run in his outing with three walks and five strikeouts. Senior right-hander Matt Wasche (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst) worked out of a bases-loaded jam to end the seventh inning and went the final 2 1/3 innings to notch his second save of 2017.
 
At the plate, junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) had a very productive day for McKendree, rapping out five hits in the twinbill. Bodine had a two-run double to give the Bearcats an early lead in game one, then added a pair of two-out RBI singles in the second contest. He finished the afternoon with four runs batted in. Junior infielder Jeff Wetzler (Newburgh, IN/Castle) added four hits on the day, including a three-hit performance in the opener. Senior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) contributed three hits while scoring four runs on the day.
 
After a scoreless first inning in game one, McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Senior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) started the frame with a single before Fisher was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt by Wetzler moved the runners into scoring position, Bodine came to the plate and belted a two-run double to center field to score both Deaville and Fisher with the game's first runs.
 
Rockhurst (11-6) tied the contest with a pair of runs in the fourth inning before McKendree moved in front for good in the fifth inning. Junior catcher Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Bodine followed with a single, and both he and DeLaVega moved up a base thanks to a wild pitch. Sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home DeLaVega with the go-ahead tally to give the Bearcats a 3-2 advantage.
 
McKendree then plated a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning to close out the game one scoring. Junior outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) led off with a double and reached third on a one-out single by Fisher. Wetzler then delivered an RBI single to score Groleau to push the Bearcats' lead to 4-1 ahead of an RBI single by DeLaVega that brought home Fisher with the final run of the contest.
 
In the nightcap, Rockhurst took its only lead of the game in the first inning, using a hit batsman and a pair of singles to grab a 1-0 advantage. McKendree answered with two runs in the top of the second to surge in front at 2-1. Senior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) opened things with a single and promptly stole second base. Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) stepped in next and produced an RBI single up the middle to score Cates with the tying run. Four batters later, Bodine came to the plate and delivered a two-out RBI single to plate Deaville.
 
The 2-1 score held until the seventh inning, when the Bearcats scratched out a run to extend its advantage. Fisher led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Wetzler. After a groundout moved Fisher to third, Bodine once again produced another two-out RBI single to bring home Fisher for the 3-1 McKendree lead. The Bearcats put the game away with two runs in the ninth inning thanks to an RBI triple from Fisher that was followed by a run-scoring double off the bat of Wetzler.