GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE vs. LEWIS -- Hypes Field, Lebanon, Ill.
Friday, March 30, 2018, 1 p.m. (DH)
Saturday, March 31, 2018, Noon (DH)

WATCH LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network)
LIVE STATS
McKENDREE SEASON STATISTICS
LEWIS SEASON STATISTICS

(LEBANON, Ill., March 29)--The McKendree University baseball team returns to action at Hypes Field this weekend for a Great Lakes Valley Conference series against Lewis University. The Bearcats and Flyers will kick things off with a doubleheader Friday which has been moved to a 1 p.m. start. The two teams will play two more games Saturday at noon. The four-game series will air live on the Bearcat Sports Network (weather permitting) at www.glvcsn.com/mckendree.

McKendree began conference play in a weather-delayed four-game series at Bellarmine University. The Bearcats were swept 5-4 (10 innings) and 5-2 in Sunday's doubleheader before bouncing back with a split of Monday's twinbill. McKendree took the opener 5-1 behind a solid pitching performance from Levi Brening. He allowed just one run on four hits over the first six innings to collect his first victory in a McKendree uniform.

In the four games at Bellarmine, the McKendree offense produced 47 hits, including at least 12 in three of the four contests. Matt Klosterman led the charge with eight hits against the Knights, half of which came in the series finale against the Knights. Thanks to their offensive outburst at Bellarmine, the Bearcats raised their team batting average to .255 heading into this weekend's series against Lewis.

In the latest GLVC statistical report, Klosterman ranks sixth in the conference with a .386 average. Klosterman is also tied for fifth in the league with 32 hits. Brening, who is a .338 hitter entering the weekend, sits in seventh in the GLVC in slugging percentage at .648. Brening paces the Bearcats wtih four home runs and 20 RBI.

Friday's twinbill opens an eight-game home stand for McKendree. The Bearcats will host a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday against Rockhurst University before Oakland City comes to Hypes Field for two games next Saturday, April 7.

ABOUT LEWIS
The Flyers are 7-14-1 overall this season. Lewis hosted No. 10 ranked Indianapolis last weekend in Romeoville, Ill., and dropped three of four contests to the visiting Greyhounds. Connor Rutherford leads the Flyers with a .329 batting average, seven home runs and 22 RBI. Rutherford is also tied for the team lead with four stolen bases. Ryan Schefske checks in at .302 on the year with a team-best eight doubles, while Trayvon Johnson is hitting .300 with 12 RBI.

On the mound, Blake Marks has won three of the Flyers' seven games this season. Marks has a 2.25 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 28 innings of work. Pete Hamot is 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA and a team-high 32 strikeouts in five starts. Brady Kostecki has earned all four saves out of the Lewis bullpen this season.

Lewis and McKendree wrapped up the 2017 regular season with a four-game series May 5-6 in Romeoville. The Flyers won all four contests, which included a pair of one-run victories and a two-run triumph.