(LEBANON, Ill., March 5)—The McKendree University baseball team closed out its four-game weekend series with Hillsdale College by taking one of two games from the visiting Chargers. The Bearcats grabbed a 7-4 victory in the opener before a late rally came up short in an 8-7 loss in game two.
 
McKendree and Hillsdale combined to split each doubleheader over the weekend. The Bearcats are now 3-8 overall and will continue a seven-game home stand on Friday by playing host to William Jewell College in a nine-inning contest. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Hypes Field.
 
Senior catcher Chris Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) belted a pair of solo home runs in the nightcap for McKendree, while junior catcher Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) also went deep in the same contest. Senior infielder Cody Hall (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) collected three hits and scored a pair of runs in the game one triumph. Junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) was the only Bearcat to post a hit in each game on Sunday while driving in four runs against the Chargers.
 
Junior right-hander Nick Yung (Smithton, IL/Freeburg), who was making his first start of the 2017 season, earned the game one victory on the mound for McKendree. Yung allowed four earned runs on four hits over five innings with four strikeouts. Senior right-hander Matt Wasche (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst) faced just six batters to register a two-inning save for the Bearcats. Wasche gave up just one single to collect the first save of the season by a McKendree pitcher.
 
McKendree made the most of its opportunities in the opener, scoring just three earned runs on its way to the game one win. The Bearcats scored twice in the first inning before tacking on another run in the second to build a 3-0 lead. Sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) led off with a single before moving to third base on a double by Hall. Johnson and Hall both came around to score on wild pitches. In the second inning, junior infielder Jeff Wetzler (Newburgh, IN/Castle) reached on a one-out walk and promptly stole second base. Wetzler then moved to third on a Hillsdale error and scored as Bodine bounced into a fielder's choice.
 
After Hillsdale scratched out a run in the third inning, McKendree answered with a tally in the bottom of the fourth to regain a 4-1 advantage. The Bearcats loaded the bases with one out when Bodine drew a walk to force home senior outfielder Ryan Cates (Anderson, IN/Yorktown), who was hit by a pitch to start the frame. The Chargers then tied the contest at 4-4 by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
 
The Bearcats took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth as Hall led off the frame with a double and eventually scored on a Hillsdale throwing error to push McKendree back in front at 5-4. Johnson delivered an RBI infield single in the bottom of the sixth inning before the Bearcats' final run of the contest scored on a balk.
 
In the nightcap, McKendree scored in each of the first three innings on its way to a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the first inning, senior outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and raced home on a Chargers' error to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. Bodine extended the McKendree lead to 3-0 in the second inning with a two-run double to center field.
 
Deaville capped the fast start for McKendree with his first home run of the contest, which cleared the left field fence. After Hillsdale (3-8) put together a three-run rally in the top of the fifth inning to pull within 4-3, Deaville capped a 12-pitch at-bat by ripping his second homer of the game just inside the left-field foul pole to stretch the Bearcats' lead back to 5-3.
 
The Chargers knotted the score at 5-5 with two runs in the sixth inning, then grabbed the lead for good by plating three more runs in the top of the eighth to build an 8-5 advantage. Leading off the bottom of the eighth inning, DeLaVega blasted his first home run of the season to trim the McKendree deficit to 8-6. In its final at-bat, McKendree capitalized on a pair of Hillsdale miscues to score a run and pull within 8-7. However, the Chargers were able to record the final out with the potential tying run at third base for the Bearcats.
 
Senior left-hander Brad Henry (Godfrey, IL/Alton) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning in his game two start against Hillsdale. He allowed three earned runs on four hits with a trio of strikeouts over his five innings of work. Senior lefty Dylan Salsman (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) was nicked for the loss.