(LEBANON, Ill., March 1)—The McKendree University took to the home turf at Hypes Field for the first time in 2019, posting a doubleheader split on Friday against Quincy University. The Bearcats clawed their way to a 4-3 win in the opener before the Hawks held off a late McKendree comeback bid in the ninth inning of game two, 6-4.
 
The split leaves the Bearcats with a 2-6 overall record. The two teams will meet again Saturday at noon in the rubber game of the three-game, non-conference series.
 
Senior infielder Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) had a big day at the plate for McKendree, driving in four runs against Quincy. Aydt delivered a two-run single in the third inning of game one before belting a two-run homer to open the scoring in the nightcap for the Bearcats. Sophomore catcher Connor McCormick (Manteno, IL/Manteno) drilled a two-run home run in the ninth inning of game two, while senior outfielder Drew Reich (Charlestown, IN/Charlestown) produced two hits and two runs scored in the opener.
 
After Quincy (6-2) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game one, McKendree tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. After a pair of errors by the Hawks and a single by freshman infielder Hayden Schaefer (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) loaded the bases, Aydt produced a single just inside the first-base bag that scored two runs to help the Bearcats draw even at 2-2.
 
The Hawks answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning before McKendree rallied once again to the knot the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning. Reich doubled with one out before senior outfielder Corey Chambliss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) worked a walk. Another free pass to senior infielder Drake Hampton (Godfrey, IL/Alton) loaded the bases, Reich raced home on a wild pitch to tie the contest at 3-3.
 
That score stood until the bottom of the eighth, when the Bearcats put together the go-ahead rally. Reich ripped a one-out single to left field before Chambliss was hit by a pitch. On the next pitch, Hampton blasted a run-scoring double to right-center field that plated Reich with the go-ahead tally.
 
Junior Adam Bunnell (Salem, IL/Salem), the last of three McKendree pitchers in game one, struck out the first two batters in the ninth before inducing a game-ending groundout to pick up his second save of the year. Sophomore Lucas Vallandingham (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) allowed just one hit in two innings of relief to earn the win.
 
Senior Levi Brening (Coon Rapids, MN/DuQuoin) registered a quality start in game one for McKendree, allowing three earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts.
 
Game two was scoreless until the third inning, when the Hawks scored twice to build a 2-0 advantage. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Schaefer led off with a single before Aydt belted a two-run shot to tie things at 2-2. Quincy responded with a four-run outburst in the top of the seventh inning to regain a 6-2 lead.
 
McKendree mounted one more rally attempt in its final at-bat in the ninth inning. With two outs, McCormick hit a two-run home run to trim the deficit to 6-4. But the Hawks were able to wiggle out of the jam to earn a split of Friday's twinbill.
 
Freshman Jared Timmerman (New Baden, IL/Wesclin)n gave up one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts over four innings of his game two start. Freshman Geoff Withers (Cottage Hills, IL/Civic Memorial) was charged with the loss.