(SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Mar. 11) – The McKendree University baseball team had its early lead slip away on Wednesday in a 13-7 setback to Illinois-Springfield in a non-conference contest. The Bearcats held a 4-2 lead after four innings before the Prairie Stars belted two grand slams to rally past McKendree.
 
The Bearcats hold a 6-9 mark overall and jump back into Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition on Friday when they host William Jewell to Hypes Field.
 
Junior Austin Francis (Dupo, IL/Dupo High School) wasted no time, hitting a two run homer in the top of the first. UIS would answer right back with a two run homer of its own in the second to even the score. In the third, the Bearcats jumped ahead 4-2 following a sacrifice fly from senior Chance Foss (Wood River, IL/Roxana High School) and an error from the Prairie Star defense.
 
UIS hit the first of its grand slams in the fifth and followed up with an RBI single to take a 7-4 lead after five innings of play. Freshman Joseph Copeland (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School) smacked a three run bomb to tie the game at seven.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Prairie Stars hit two home runs, a grand slam and a two run shot to take a commanding 13-7 lead late in the ballgame, ultimately defeating the Bearcats.
 
On the mound, senior Brian Christianson (Mattenson, IL/Lincoln-Way East High Shcool) threw a shutout inning in relief and freshman Cameron Hibbets (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) retired the only two batters he faced.