(LEBANON, Ill., March 17)—The McKendree University baseball team was edged in the final game of its three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at home against the University of Indianapolis, 7-5.
 
The Bearcats took a 4-3 lead into the seventh inning, but the visiting Greyhounds posted four unearned runs to take the lead for good. McKendree slips to 5-12 on the year and 2-4 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play with Sunday's setback. The Bearcats will return to GLVC play Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
 
Senior infielder Matt Klosterman (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) registered three hits and scored a pair of runs to help lead the McKendree offensive attack. Senior infielder Drake Hampton (Godfrey, IL/Alton) had two hits, including a two-run double, while senior infielder Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) chipped in with two hits and two runs scored against the Greyhounds.
 
Indianapolis (10-7, 3-3 GLVC) plated three unearned runs in the top of the first inning before McKendree answered with a tally of its own in the bottom of the frame. Klosterman led off with a double down the left-field line and came around to score two batters later when senior outfielder Drew Reich (Charlestown, IN/Charlestown) delivered an RBI single to left field.
 
McKendree put together a two-run rally in the bottom of the third to pull even at 3-3. Klosterman started things once again with an infield single. Klosterman later stole second base before Aydt drew a two-out walk. Hampton stepped in next and belted a double to the left-center field gap that scored both Klosterman and Aydt.
 
The Bearcats then took their first lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth inning. Aydt singled through the left side against the Greyhounds' shift to start the frame. Hampton followed with a single to right field before both runners moved up a base thanks to a sacrifice bunt off the bat of junior outfielder Jordan Richardson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon). Senior outfielder Corey Chambliss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) then ripped a deep fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly that scored Aydt with the go-ahead run.
 
After UIndy's four-run outburst in the top of the seventh inning, McKendree looked to mount a rally in its final at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. Chambliss reached on a one-out double off the right field fence. After moving to third on a ground out, Chambliss scored on a Greyhounds' error to help the Bearcats pull within two runs. But Indianapolis was able to end the Bearcats' rally to finish off the contest.
 
Four different McKendree hurlers saw action in Sunday's contest, with sophomore right-hander Connor Gilles (High Ridge, MO/Rockwood Summit) taking the hard-luck loss. Gilles allowed just one hit in 3 1/3 innings of relief work for the Bearcats.