(LEBANON, Ill., April 24)—The McKendree University baseball team dropped both games of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader Monday afternoon at home to Saint Joseph's College. The Pumas pulled away late to notch an 8-3 victory in game one before rolling to a 14-4 decision in the nightcap.
 
The losses give McKendree an overall record of 12-29 and a 1-19 mark in league play. The Bearcats will play their final non-conference game of the 2017 season Wednesday afternoon on the road at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
 
Junior infielders Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) and Jeff Wetzler (Newburgh, IN/Castle) each collected four hits in the twinbill against Saint Joseph's. Aydt rapped out three hits in the opener, including a pair of doubles, while Wetzler was joined by sophomore infielder Luke Johnson (Barrington, IL/Barrington) with three hits in game two. Junior catcher Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) belted a two-run home run in the final game of the afternoon for the Bearcats.
 
Saint Joseph's (29-13, 11-9 GLVC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game one with a run in the second inning and two more in the top of the third. McKendree scratched out a run in the bottom of the third to pull within 3-1. Junior outfielder Hayden Bodine (Washington, IL/Washington) led off with a walk. Two batters later, Wetzler bounced a single into right field, allowing Bodine to move to third base. The Bearcats then executed a double steal as Bodine slid home just ahead of the tag to trim the McKendree deficit to two runs.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Aydt doubled down the right-field line with one out. After moving to third on a failed pickoff attempt, Aydt came home to score when senior outfielder Jay Roberts (Plainfield, IL/Plainfield North) grounded out to shortstop.
 
The Pumas then broke the game open with a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning for a 7-2 advantage before tacking on an insurance run in the seventh inning. Aydt produced McKendree's final run of the contest in the seventh when he led off with a double, took third base on a wild pitch and raced home on a Pumas' error.
 
Senior right-hander Terry Deaville (Rantoul, IL/Rantoul) allowed just three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings of work with a pair of strikeouts in making the game one start for McKendree.
 
Saint Joseph's took control early in the nightcap, scoring three runs each in the second and third innings to build a 6-0 cushion. After the Pumas pushed across a run in the top of the fifth inning, McKendree got on the scoreboard with a tally in the bottom of the frame. Roberts led off with a walk and moved to third thanks to a one-out double by Johnson. Wetzler stepped in next and delivered an RBI single to plate Roberts, cutting the Bearcats' deficit to 7-1.
 
Following a three-run outburst by the Pumas in the top of the sixth, the Bearcats added another run in the bottom of the inning. Junior outfielder Brad Groleau (Peru, IL/St. Bede Academy) and Aydt started the inning with consecutive singles. After moving to third following a double play, Groleau scored on an RBI single by Roberts. DeLaVega closed out the offense on the day for McKendree when he blasted a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Senior right-hander Matt Wasche (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst) was nicked for the loss, allowing six earned runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.