(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., Feb. 24)—Despite a four-run outburst in the first inning, the McKendree University baseball team dropped the final game of a three-game weekend set Sunday afternoon against Saginaw Valley State University. The visiting Cardinals rallied to grab a 19-7 decision in a contest played at Simmons Baseball Complex in Edwardsville, Ill.
 
McKendree, now 1-5 on the season, will look to rebound next weekend by hosting Quincy University in a three-game, non-conference series. The Bearcats and Hawks will start things off with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 2, with first pitch slated for noon at Hypes Field.
 
On Sunday, junior outfielder Bryce Emery (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) paced the McKendree offensive attack with two hits and an RBI. Senior infielders Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) and Drake Hampton (Godfrey, IL/Alton) each scored a pair of runs against Saginaw Valley State.
 
Nine batters went to the plate for McKendree in the bottom of the first inning as the Bearcats scored four times to take a 4-0 lead. With one out, senior Levi Brening (Coon Rapids, MN/DuQuoin) was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Senior outfielder Drew Reich (Charlestown, IN/Charlestown) laced an RBI single to score Brening with the first run of the inning. A single by Aydt and a walk to Hampton loaded the bases before Emery delivered a run-scoring single to bring home Reich and build the Bearcats' lead to 2-0.
 
After senior outfielder Corey Chambliss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Aydt, junior Cal Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) finished off the McKendree first-inning outburst with an RBI single that scored Hampton to give the Bearcats a four-run advantage.
 
Saginaw Valley State (2-4) scored three runs in the top of the third inning to pull within a run before McKendree answered with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the frame. Aydt reached on a two-base error and Hampton was hit by a pitch to start the rally. Emery then hit a slow bouncer that was misplayed near the second-base bag, allowing Aydt to score and give the Bearcats a two-run lead. Chambliss then produced his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon to score Hampton and stretch the McKendree advantage to 6-3.
 
The Cardinals took the lead for good with seven runs in the fourth inning to grab a 10-6 lead. McKendree added its final run of the day in the bottom of the sixth. Emery led off with a single and moved to second on a base hit by Chambliss. After Kossina dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position, Emery rambled home on a sacrifice fly by Schaefer.
 
Junior right-hander Ryan Vogt (Ava, IL/Trico) scattered five hits over the first three innings, allowing three earned runs with a walk and four strikeouts. Andrew Yancik (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville), the second of six McKendree pitchers in the contest, took the loss.