The McKendree University baseball team fell to 14-24 (7-23 in GLVC) following two defeats at the hands of the Maryville Saints on Thursday by scores of 3-9 and 4-5.

The Saints got to starter Mark Branz early on in game one, tagging him for seven runs, with two of those runs earned. The contest would halt into a two-hour rain delay in the middle of the third inning, with the Bearcats down 8-0.

When play resumed, McKendree got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the third, courtesy of Ryan Hutchinson, who collected his 32nd RBI of the campaign, and a sacrifice fly from Corey Price. the Bearcats would add one more run in the seventh.

In game two, the Saints would strike first with a solo home run in the first inning. Both teams' bats would be shut down until the fifth inning, where McKendree would take their first lead of the afternoon.

JP Kehoe tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Bryce Emery would beat out a throw from third base to bring home Connor McCormick and take the a 2-1 lead.

The Saints would answer in the sixth inning by retaking the lead with a four-run sixth inning to give them a 5-2 lead.

Joseph Copeland would cut the lead to two runs with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

The Bearcats would not go away in the seventh inning and would mount a two out rally that would be started from a single from Bryce Emery. Emery would cross home plate two batters later thanks to a single from Corey Price. Price and Ryan Hutchinson, who hit a single prior to Price, would advance on a wild pitch to put them on second and third respectively, but the Saints would force the Bearcats to ground out, ending the comeback.

McKendree concludes their regular season with a double header against the Saints on Friday, May 7, starting at noon. the Bearcats will honor their senior class in between the two games.