(KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 27)—The McKendree University baseball team battled its way to a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon at Rockhurst University. The Bearcats needed 11 innings to take down the Hawks in game one, 5-4, before edging past the hosts in the nightcap, 4-3.
 
The two wins – which came in the Bearcats' final two road games of the 2019 season -- helps McKendree improve to 11-34 on the year and 8-22 in GLVC play. The Bearcats will return to Hypes Field Wednesday for their last non-conference tilt of the year against Lindenwood University. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
 
Freshman infielder Joseph Costanzo (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst) drove in the eventual winning run in game one with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 11^th inning. Senior outfielder Corey Chambliss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) had a big day at the plate for the Bearcats with four hits in the doubleheader, including three extra-base hits in game two. Chambliss reached base six times in Saturday's twinbill. Senior outfielder Drew Reich (Charlestown, IN/Charlestown) drove in four runs on the day, which included his 10^th home run of the season. That gives Reich the program's NCAA Division II era single-season home run record.
 
Senior right-hander Ryan Moore (Evansville, IN/Central) notched his first victory of the year with a solid starting effort in game two for McKendree. Moore allowed just one earned run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
 
In game one, Rockhurst (11-33, 6-24 GLVC) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before junior outfielder Brady Rakers (Aviston, IL/Mater Dei) blasted his first home run of the season, a solo shot to center field leading off the third inning, to pull the Bearcats even at 1-1. The Hawks responded with a run in the bottom of the third to regain the lead at 2-1.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Chambliss led off with a walk in front of Reich's two-run shot to left-center field that pushed the Bearcats back in front at 3-2. McKendree then added a key run in the top of the fifth inning when senior first baseman Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka) reached on a one-out walk, moved to second on a single by Chambliss and scored thanks to an RBI single off the bat of senior Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West).
 
The Hawks tied the contest at 4-4 with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. The score stood until the top of the 11^th inning, when McKendree moved back in front. Aydt led off with an infield single before Chambliss walked to put runners at first and second base. Freshman infielder Katom Parnell (University City, MO/DeSmet) came on as a pinch-runner for Aydt and reached third base when DeLaVega worked a walk to load the bases. Costanzo stepped in next and llfted a fly ball to center field that was misplayed, enabling Parnell to score with the go-ahead run to put the Bearcats in front at 5-4.
 
Senior right-hander Kraig Gielow (Arnold, MO/DeSmet Jesuit), who came on in relief in the bottom of the ninth inning, then sealed the win for McKendree by retiring the side in order to grab the mound decision. Over his three innings of work, Gielow allowed just one hit while fanning a pair of batters. Freshman righty Ryan Vogt (Ava, IL/Trico) turned in a quality start for the Bearcats, giving up two runs (one earned) over seven innings with six strikeouts.
 
In the nightcap, McKendree jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. With one out, Chambliss tripled to right-center field. After a walk to Aydt, Chambliss came home on an RBI ground out by Reich. Rockhurst countered with two runs in the bottom of the first and another in the second to build a 3-1 advantage.
 
McKendree started its game two comeback with a run in the top of the third inning. Chambliss ripped a double to right field and came around to score thanks to a run-scoring double off the bat of senior infielder Drake Hampton (Godfrey, IL/Alton) that trimmed the Bearcats' deficit to 3-2.
 
The Bearcats took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Chambliss figured into the mix once again as he led off the frame with a triple to center field. Aydt stepped in next and tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single to right field. Aydt then stole second base and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Reich.
 
Moore pitched into the sixth inning before sophomore right-hander Connor Gilles (High Ridge, MO/Rockwood Summit) came on and induced a double-play grounder to end the frame. Junior right-hander Adam Bunnell (Salem, IL/Salem) then shut down the Hawks in the bottom of the seventh to earn his fourth save of 2019.