(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 29) – The McKendree University baseball team opened up its home 2020 season with two wins over Hillsdale College to begin a three-game series. The Bearcats defeated the Chargers 8-5 in the first game and then 10-4 in the second game to improve to 4-6 overall on the season.
McKendree got on the board first in the first game with three quick runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Chargers tallied one run of their own in the second inning and then two more in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game up 3-3. The Bearcats had an explosive sixth inning collecting five runs to get back on top 8-3. Hillsdale put up two more runs in the top of the seventh but McKendree remained on top to win game one 8-5.
The Bearcats tallied five hits and eight RBIs in the first game.
Bryce Emery (Harrisburg, IL/Harrisburg High School),
Hayden Schaefer (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon Township High School),
Jordan Richardson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon Township High School),
Chance Foss (Wood River, IL/Roxana High School), and
Joseph Copeland (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School) all collected hits for McKendree. Foss and Copeland were the team RBI leaders, Foss with three in the game and Copeland close behind with two.
Jared Timmerman (New Baden, IL/Wesclin High School) was the starting pitcher for the Bearcats earning eight strikeouts in the game, the most of any pitcher on either team.
Cade Berendt (Germantown, WI/Germantown High School) came out to the mound next for McKendree earning one strikeout,
Brandon Hampton (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial High School) followed, and then
Lucas Vallandingham (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West High School) closed out the game earning one strikeout as well.
McKendree got on the scoreboard first in the second game as well with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. Hillsdale took the lead quickly in the top of the second with two runs of its own. The Bearcats answered back and scored one run in the third but the Chargers were able to tie it up in the fourth 3-3. The Bearcats experienced their best inning of the game in the bottom of the fourth as they collected seven runs to take a commanding 10-3 lead. The Chargers put up one more run but that was it and McKendree went on to win 10-4.
The Bearcats earned 12 hits and six RBIs in the second game.
Cal Kossina (Millstadt, IL/Belleville West High School) and
Austin Francis (Dupo, IL/Dupo High School) lead the Bearcats hitting for the second game, Kossina with three hits and Francis close behind with two. Copeland and
Connor McCormick (Manteno, IL/Manteno High School) were then the team leaders in RBIs, each collecting two in the second game.
Brendon Boles was the starting pitcher for McKendree in game two throwing for eight strikeouts.
Jaron Dishman (Springfield, MO/Walnut Grove High School) came to the mound next for the Bearcats and then
Andrew Hoguet (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School) closed out the day with two strikeouts for McKendree.
The Bearcats will close out the three-game series with the Chargers with a 12 p.m. game tomorrow, Sunday, March 1.
