(CLAREMORE, Okla., Feb. 22) – The McKendree University baseball team went 1-1 on the day against Rogers State University, claiming the first game 6-5 and then falling in the second game 16-6. The Bearcats are now 2-6 overall on the season.
McKendree scored first in game one with a single ruin in the top of the second scored by
Cal Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West High School). Rogers State quickly regained the lead with two runs of its own in the bottom of the second. The Hillcats increased their lead with another run in the bottom of the fourth and then two more in the bottom of the sixth inning. Down by four, the Bearcats had one inning left and they made the comeback scoring five runs in the top of the seventh.
Kossina scored twice for the Bearcats while
Bryce Emery (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg High School),
Ryan Hutchinson (Sorento,IL/Greenville High School),
Joseph Copeland (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School), and
Joseph Costanzo (Kansas City, MO/Rockhurst High School) all earned one run for McKendree. Emery was then the lone Bearcat to record more than one hit in the first game collecting two RBIs in the game as well. Costanzo also tallied two RBIs for the Bearcats too.
Andrew Yancik (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School) started on the mound for McKendree in the first game seeing 48 pitches.
Brandon Hampton (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial High School) took the mound next for 39 pitches recording one strikeout.
Evan Spears (Eureka, MO/Eureka High School) replaced Hampton, then
Brian Christianson (Mattenson, IL/Lincoln-Way East High Shcool) came to the mound for the Bearcats, and
Lucas Vallandingham (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West High School) closed out the game.
In the second game, Rogers State got on the board first with a single run in the first inning. McKendree answered back with two runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. It was short lived for the Bearcats though as the Hillcats scored four runs in the bottom of the second. The Bearcats scored two runs again in the third inning but Rogers State was unstoppable at the plate in the fourth, fifth, and sixth inning. The Hillcats went on to win 16-6.
Emery scored twice for McKendree and then
Hayden Schaefer (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon Township High School),
Chance Foss (Wood River, IL/Roxana High School), Hutchinson, and Copeland all earned one run in the second game. The Bearcats tallied 11 hits in the second game with Emery leading the team with three hits. Kossina and Foss were next for McKendree, each with two hits. Schaefer, Hutchinson, Copeland, and
Connor McCormick (Manteno, IL/Manteno High School) then all earned one hit in the second game.
McKendree had five Bearcats take the mound in the second game as well with
Geoff Withers (Cottage Hills, IL/Civic Memorial High School) starting the game and recording one strikeout.
Connor Gilles (High Ridge, MO/Rockwood Summit High School) came out next for McKendree with
Andrew Hoguet (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School) replacing him.
Jaron Dishman (Springfield, MO/Walnut Grove High School) pitched for an inning and then
Cameron Hibbets (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) closed out the game for the Bearcats.
McKendree will open its 2020 home season next weekend with a three-game series with Hillsdale College Feb. 29 through March 1.
