(LEBANON, Ill., March 24)—The McKendree University baseball team opened its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule Friday by dropping both ends of a doubleheader at Hypes Field to the University of Illinois Springfield. The visiting Prairie Stars rolled to a 26-5 win in the opener before rallying to grab an 11-6 win to complete the sweep.
 
McKendree slips to 8-12 on the year with its two losses on Friday. The Bearcats and Prairie Stars will meet again to close out the opening weekend of GLVC play on Sunday, with first pitch set for noon in Lebanon.
 
Senior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) and sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) each provided two-out RBI hits to fuel a pair of three-run innings in the nightcap to stake McKendree to a 6-1 lead. However, Illinois Springfield roared back by scoring the final 10 runs of the contest – including a five-run sixth inning and a four-run seventh – to close out the road sweep. The Prairie Stars overcame an early deficit in the opener by reeling off 25 unanswered runs in their second-highest scoring output in the game this season.
 
In the game one, UIS took a 1-0 lead in the first before McKendree answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Junior infielder Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) drew a one-out walk and advanced to third base thanks to a pair of wild pitches. Senior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) helped the Bearcats draw even when he legged out an infield single. McKendree eventually loaded the bases before junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) worked a walk to force home the go-ahead run for a 2-1 advantage.
 
Illinois Springfield (12-9, 2-0 GLVC) took control from there, scoring multiple runs in each of the next six innings to surge in front for good at 26-2. McKendree bounced back into the scoring column with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Johnson ripped a one-out double and scored two batters later on a run-scoring single off the bat of senior infielder Matt Walsh (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton Warrenville South). Junior infielder Jeff Wetzler (Newburgh, IN/Castle) brought Walsh home thanks to an RBI single to get the Bearcats within 26-4. Senior outfielder Colton Calhoun (Mt. Zion, IL/Mt. Zion) closed out the game one scoring when belted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
 
Five McKendree pitchers saw action in game one, with senior right-hander Terry Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) picking up the loss. Deaville was nicked for seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work with four strikeouts.
 
After Illinois Springfield grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the nightcap, McKendree plated three runs in its first at-bat of the contest to move in front at 3-1. Bodine opened things with a walk before senior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown) reached on an infield single. Johnson walked with two outs to load the bases when Fisher stepped in and delivered a two-run single up the middle to give the Bearcats their first lead of the contest at 2-1. Johnson later scored on a wild pitch to stretch the McKendree lead to two runs.
 
The Bearcats filled the bases again in the second inning when Johnson had the biggest hit of the day for the hosts, a three-run triple to deep left-center field to pushed McKendree to a 6-1 cushion. On the mound, junior right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg) battled through the first five innings, scattering seven hits while giving up two runs with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
After Yung exited with a 6-2 lead, Illinois Springfield roared back against the McKendree bullpen with five runs in the top of the sixth to regain a 7-6 advantage. The Prairie Stars then sealed the sweep with four more runs in the seventh to close out the scoring.