(LEBANON, Ill., March 26)—The McKendree University baseball team was defeated twice at Hypes Field on Sunday in Great Lakes Valley Conference play by the University of Illinois Springfield. The visiting Prairie Stars held off a late rally by the Bearcats to post a 6-4 win in the opener before completing the sweep with a 9-3 triumph in game two.
 
McKendree wraps up its first weekend of GLVC play with an 8-14 overall record and a 0-4 mark in league play. The Bearcats will continue their nine-game home stand next weekend when Bellarmine University visits Lebanon for a four-game conference series. The teams will tangle in a doubleheader Saturday with first pitch set for noon.
 
Senior infielder Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) led the offensive charge for McKendree with five hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 performance in game one. Senior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown), junior catcher Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) and sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) each added three hits on the day. Senior infielder Cody Hall (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) chipped in with a pair of hits in the opener for the Bearcats.
 
Illinois Springfield (14-9, 4-0 GLVC) built a 4-0 lead in the first game with three runs in the first inning and another tally in the second. McKendree cut the deficit in half by plating a pair runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hall and Cates led off the frame with base hits before Cates was erased on a fielder's choice. Johnson brought Hall home with an RBI double down the left field line to get the Bearcats on the board before an RBI ground out by junior infielder Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) helped the Bearcats rally within 4-2.
 
After the Prairie Stars scored single runs in the top of the fourth and seventh innings to stretch their advantage back to 6-2, McKendree put together a rally in its last at-bat in an attempt to tie the game. Fisher opened the inning with a walk before Johnson and Aydt each drew a walk to load the bases. Two batters later, DeLaVega reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Fisher with the first run of the inning. An RBI single by freshman outfielder Blake Gray (Niceville, FL/Niceville) scored Johnson to help the Bearcats edge within 6-4 before the Prairie Stars were able to record the final out to end McKendree's final threat.
 
Sophomore left-hander Brandon Tatum (Vero Beach, FL/Vero Beach) picked up the game one loss for McKendree, scattering eight hits and giving up five earned runs over the first four innings.
 
In the nightcap, McKendree took its first lead of the day with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) ripped a leadoff double to left-center field and moved to third base thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Johnson. Cates stepped in next and delivered a run-scoring single to left field to score Bodine. UIS responded by scoring five times in the top of the third inning to take the lead for good at 5-1.
 
Fisher got McKendree back within 5-2 in the bottom of the third as he beat out an infield single with two outs to score Hall. The Prairie Stars padded its lead with a run in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh for a 9-2 advantage. The Bearcats accounted for the final run of the day in the bottom of the eighth inning. Johnson started the inning with a single before racing home as senior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) bounced into a fielder's choice.
 
Senior left-hander Brad Henry (Godfrey, IL/Alton) allowed four earned runs and three hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings as he was charged with the game two loss for the Bearcats.