(LEBANON, Ill., May 3)—The McKendree University baseball team put a special emphasis on Senior Day as the Bearcats wrapped up their 2019 season with a 10-6 loss to Drury University in a game played on the campus of Maryville University in St. Louis.
The team honored its 13 senior players –
Andrew Aydt (Wildwood, MO/Eureka),
Levi Brening (Coon Rapids, MN/DuQuoin),
Corey Chambliss (St. Louis, MO/Oakville),
Adam Cox (Louisville, IL/North Clay),
Lucas Deimeke (Aviston, IL/Mater Dei),
Matt DeLaVega (Lincolnwood, IL/Niles West),
Kraig Gielow (Arnold, MO/DeSmet Jesuit),
Drake Hampton (Godfrey, IL/Alton),
Theo Johnson (Chicago Heights, IL/Thornton Fractional South),
Matt Klosterman (Belleville, IL/Belleville West),
Ryan Moore (Evansville, IN/Central),
Austin Werner (Hamel, IL/Edwardsville) and
Logan Zachry (Carlyle, IL/Carlyle) – in a special pre-game ceremony. Then, the Bearcats fielded an all-senior lineup, and all 13 seniors were the lone players to take the field for McKendree in Saturday's contest.
Johnson made the most of his first and only collegiate varsity start against Drury. Johnson helped lead the way with two hits – including an RBI double in his final at-bat in the ninth inning – while adding a run scored and a stolen base. Klosterman rapped out two hits, driving in Johnson with a run-scoring hit of his own in the ninth. Hampton scored twice in the effort as well for the Bearcats.
On the mound, Moore turned in a solid final start in a McKendree uniform, allowing just one earned run on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. In fact, all four senior hurlers for the Bearcats – Moore, Gielow, Brening and Zachry – each registered at least two strikeouts in their respective outings.
McKendree (11-38, 8-25 GLVC) struck first with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Hampton reached on a throwing error and then stole second base. DeLaVega then hit a grounder that was thrown out of play, allowing Hampton to score with the first run of the contest. Werner then provided an infield single that moved DeLaVega to third base. The duo then executed a double-steal as DeLaVega slid home to providd the Bearcats with an early two-run advantage.
Drury (29-21, 21-12 GLVC) surged in front at 4-2 with a run in the fourth inning and three more in the top of the fifth before McKendree answered back. Johnson ripped a single to left-center field and then stole second base. Three batters later, Johnson came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Aydt to bring the Bearcats within 4-3. The teams traded scores in the sixth inning as the McKendree tally came via an RBI ground out by DeLaVega to bring home Cox, who led off the frame with a double.
The Panthers broke the game open with four runs in the eighth and one more in the top of the ninth to stretch their advantage to 10-4. McKendree looked to rally one final time in 2019, plating two runs in their final at-bat of the season. Hampton doubled down the left-field line and eventually scored when Johnson floated a run-scoring double just inside the left-field line. Klosterman then deposited the next pitch into left-center field to score Johnson with the Bearcats' second and final run of the inning.
