SEARCY, Ark. - McKendree University baseball (1-2) earned its first win of the spring on Saturday afternoon with a 10-5 victory in the final game of its series against Harding (5-1). Sophomore pitcher Ryan Drayer (1-0) collected his first win as part of the McKendree pitching staff while eight Bearcats recorded a hit and seven tacked on an RBI in the series-closing victory over the Bison. McKendree also ended Harding's winning streak of five games to begin its season.

Top 1st:
McKendree started off with its bats hot and ready to go, scoring three in the top of the first on four hits with senior outfielder Corey Price dropping a single into center field after graduate senior Peyton Dillingham reached on a hit-by-pitch. Dillingham made the jup to third on Price's single while Price advanced to second after a wild pitch. Senior infielder Alex Steinbach was third up in the Bearcats' lineup, adding a single through the left side to drive Dillingham home and price to third. Price made it home on the next ground-out, putting the Bearcats up 2-0. Freshman infielder Gavin Arseneau and senior infielder Joseph Constanzo each dropped singles into center and then left, pushing Steinbach to third (Arseneau single) and then home (Constanzo single) and giving the Bearcats a 3-0 lead. 

The host, Harding, came back with a pari of runs in the bottom of the first via a two-run homerun into center by Coulton Doyle. 3-2. 

Top 2nd:
The Bearcats went right back on the offensive with a left field bomb from graduate senior catcher Mason Hale, putting McKendree up 4-2. Senior infielder JP Kehoe made it on base with a single to center before advancing to third on a Price fly-out. Kehoe scored after graduate senior outfielder Ryan Hutchinson walked. Dillingham then tacked on another run for McKendree after he advanced home following a Bison pick-off attempt on Steinbach, which placed him at third. 6-2.

McKendree added its seventh run in the sixth from  a run scored by sophomore infielder Dalton Hoel. Hoel reached by single to center and moved to second after Hale reached on a fielder's choice and sac bunt attempt. The sophomore Hoel then scored off a single by Price to centerfield. 7-3.

Top 9th:
To cap off the offensive innings for the Bearcats, they scored another three runs in the top of the ninth, extending the lead to 10-4. Price led off the inning with a double down the left line before advancing to third on a wild pitch by the Bison. Arseneau singled past the shortstop, giving Price a gap to make it to home. Hutchinson reached on an intentional walk and was led home by a double down the left field line from Costanzo, which put Arseneau on third. Hoel capped-of the McKendree offense with a single, which led Arseneau to home plate. 10-4.


The Bearcats blasted 13 hits, scoring 10 runs to close out their opening series of the 2022 season, beating the Bison 10-5. 

Drayer won his first game as a Bearcat with seven strikeouts over 5.0 innings while allowing two runs on four hits. Sophomore pitcher Mark Branz earned the save with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing two hits and one run while striking out a pair. 

UP NEXT:
McKendree baseball will be back in action on February 18-20 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, taking on Northeastern State (5-2) in a four-game series.

For more updates and information on McKendree Athletics, please continue to visit McKBearcats.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
#BearcatsUnleashed