LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University baseball kicks off its home slate for the 2022 season away from home at SIU-Edwardsville's Roy E. Lee Field due to inclement weather and field conditions at its own Hypes Field. The Bearcats (2-5) will host the Pride of Purdue Northwest (0-0) to begin a home stand of seven games, which features three against the Pride on February 26-27 and a four-game series against Hillsdale on March 5-6.

THIS SEASON
The Bearcats have fought through a multitude of tough matchups to begin the season, taking on Harding and Northeastern State to open the year. Both series featured a flurry of scoring from both the Bearcats and their opponents with McKendree taking the third game against Harding and Northeastern. The Bearcats host Purdue Northwest, who opens its season against McKendree. The Pride finished the 2021 season with an 11-22 record and a 5-19 record in the GLIAC, splitting their final series of the season with Saginaw Valley. 

At the plate:
The Bearcats have been led by senior outfielder Corey Price, who owns a .500 average with 15 hits in 30 appearances at the plate. Price has amassed an OPS of 1.100 with five RBIs, three doubles, and eight runs scored. Following Price is senior infielder Joseph Costanzo who has 10 hits this spring on 25 attempts (.400 BA), scoring six times with five RBIs, two doubles, and one triple. Freshman infielder Gavin Arseneau and senior infielder Alex Steinbach are just behind Costanzo with batting averages of .346 and .333. Arseneau leads the Bearcats with nine RBIs on nine hits and one home run while Steinbach leads McKendree with an OPS of 1.115 in 24 plate attempts, eight hits, two homers, and six RBIs. Senior outfielder Ryan Hutchinson owns four walks which ties him for the team lead with Steinbach. 

On the mound:
Sophomore pitcher Ryan Drayer and graduate senior Andrew Yancik own the pair of wins for McKendree this year with Drayer taking the win against the Bison of Harding while Yancik collected the win against the RiverHawks of Northeastern State. Drayer, over 5.0 innings of work and one start, owns an ERA of 3.60 with a WHIP of just 0.80. Yancik has tossed 4.1 innings with two total appearances with an ERA of 2.08 and a WHIP of 1.38. 

WEEKEND SLATE
2 P.M. | Saturday, February 26 | vs. Purdue Northwest | @ Roy E. Lee Field (SIUe - Edwardsville, Illinois)
11 A.M. | Sunday, February 27 | vs. Purdue Northwest | @ Roy E. Lee Field (SIUe - Edwardsville, Illinois)
2 P.M. | Sunday, February 27 | vs. Purdue Northwest | @ Roy E. Lee Field (SIUe - Edwardsville, Illinois)

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