(LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 10)—The McKendree University baseball team kicked off the Great Lakes Valley Conference portion of its 2019 schedule Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader split against Bellarmine University at St. Xavier High School. After the host Knights registered a 13-3 win in the opener, the Bearcats bounced back to collect a 4-3 victory in game two.
 
The split gives McKendree an overall record of 3-8. The Bearcats and Knights will play the rubber game of their three-game series Monday at Bellarmine. First pitch is slated for noon ET.
 
As a team, McKendree rapped out 21 hits in the twinbill. Junior outfielder Jordan Richardson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) led the way with five hits, including a 4-for-5 performance in the nightcap. Senior infielder Drake Hampton (Godfrey, IL/Alton), junior Bryce Emery (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg) and freshman infielder Hayden Schaefer (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) each posted three hits for the Bearcats, while senior outfielder Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West) registered two hits and two RBI in the game two win.
 
In the nightcap, McKendree erupted for three runs in its first at-bat to take a 3-0 lead. Schaefer and senior infielder each drew one-out walks before senior outfielder Drew Reich (Charlestown, IN/Charlestown) reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with two outs. Hampton, DeLaVega and Richardson each belted consecutive RBI singles to give the Bearcats an early three-run advantage.
 
Bellarmine (8-7, 1-1 GLVC) scratched out a run in the second inning to pull within 3-1 before McKendree countered with another tally in the top of the fourth inning. Reich singled with two outs and moved to second base when Hampton walked. DeLaVega stepped in next and delivered his second run-scoring hit of the contest, a single up the middle that plated Reich to stretch the Bearcats' lead back to 4-1.
 
The Knights plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 4-3 and looked to mount a rally in their final at-bat in the ninth. Bellarmine's leadoff batter reached on an error and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. But junior Adam Bunnell (Salem, IL/Salem), who came on to pitch the final frame for McKendree, induced a pair of groundouts to shut the door on the Knights and collect his third save of the year.
 
Junior right-hander Jared Timmerman (New Baden, IL/Wesclin)n pitched 6 2/3 innings to grab his first victory on the mound for McKendree. Timmermann allowed three earned runs on eight hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore righty Lucas Vallandingham (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief to bridge the gap to Bunnell.
 
Bellarmine jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game one when McKendree scored its first run of the day in the top of the second. Richardson reached on a two-out single and moved to third base thanks to a base hit by junior Cal Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West) and scored following an errant pickoff throw to trim the deficit to 3-1.
 
After the Knights put up 10 unanswered runs, McKendree closed out the game one scoring with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Schaefer led off with an infield single and came around to score when Reich belted a two-run homer over the left field fence.
 
Senior right-hander Levi Brening (Coon Rapids, MN/DuQuoin) was charged with the loss in the opener for the Bearcats.