(LEBANON, Ill., April 25)—A ninth-inning rally came up just short for the McKendree University baseball team Wednesday afternoon in a 6-5 home loss in non-conference action against Lindenwood University.
The Bearcats trailed 6-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth and used a two-run home run from sophomore outfielder Blake Gray to pull within a run. But the visiting Lions were able to record the final three outs to collect the win at Hypes Field. McKendree moves to 7-31 overall and will step back into Great Lakes Valley Conference play this weekend at the University of Southern Indiana. The Bearcats and Screaming Eagles will open their four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday in Evansville, Ind.
The top three hitters in the McKendree lineup all finished with two hits against Lindenwood. Junior outfielder Corey Chambliss had two hits and scored a pair of runs, while junior infielder Luke Johnson had his third multi-hit game in the Bearcats' last four contests. Junior outfielder Drew Reich had two RBI singles in the effort for McKendree.
After Lindenwood (23-20) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, McKendree answered right back with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the contest. Chambliss led off the Bearcats' half of the inning with a single and moved to third on a double by Johnson. Two batters later, Chambliss raced home on a wild pitch to help the Bearcats draw event at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third, junior outfielder Austin Werner reached on a leadoff double. Werner moved to third on a flyout and came around to score thanks to a two-out RBI single by Reich to give McKendree its only lead of the afternoon at 2-1.
Lindendwood took the lead for good thanks to a four-run fifth inning to build a 5-2 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, McKendree strung together three consecutive two-out singles as Reich drove home Chambliss to get the Bearcats back within 5-3. The Lions added an important insurance run in the top of the sixth to regain a three-run advantage at 6-3.
McKendree mounted one final rally attempt in the bottom of the ninth. Junior infielder Adam Cox was hit by the first pitch of the inning to reach first base. On the next pitch, Gray blasted a two-run home run over the high fence in right field to get the Bearcats within 6-5. The Lions were able to record the final three outs to preserve the win and collect their second victory over McKendree in 2018.
