SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - McKendree University baseball (4-9) stumbled in a pair of games against Illinois Springfield, dropping game one, 19-6, and game two, 15-4. The Bearcats fired away quickly in game two but could not keep pace with the Prairie Stars. McKendree closes out the three-game non-conference series on Monday at 1 P.M.

Game 1
In the series opener, McKendree fell behind early with UIS scoring seven runs in the bottom half of the first behind a trio of homeruns. The Bearcats got one back in the top of the second with junior outfielder Austin Fleming knocking in senior infielder Joseph Costanzo with a double to center field. The Stars then continued on with an offensive showing, scoring five runs between the second and third before McKendree tacked on four in the fourth. The Bearcats scored the three runs behind a single by Costanzo, which, after a flurry of mis-plays by UIS, brought three in and left the senior on third. Graduate catcher Mason Hale brought in Costanzo on a ground out to second, making the game 12-5. The final run for McKendree was batted in by senior infielder Alex Steinbach in the fifth, who flew out to right field, allowing senior outfielder Corey Price to make it to home plate. 

UIS managed to add seven runs between the fourth and eighth innings, winning on a 19-6 score. 

Junior pitcher Garrett Herring (0-1) took the loss in the outing. 

Game 2
McKendree shot our of the gate in the second game with a 2-0 lead on UIS in the first with Steinbach blasting a homer, bringing in freshman infielder Gavin Arseneau in the process. 

Following the quick start, the Bearcats were slowed by the Stars, unable to score until the bottom of the seventh again. UIS kept its bats hot with 15 unanswered runs from the bottom of the first through the sixth. McKendree added two runs in the top of the seventh with Costanzo collecting two RBIs with a single that brought home redshirt junior catcher Austin Francis and sophomore outfielder Joseph Copeland. 

Mac Grant took the loss, moving him to 1-1 on the season.

UP NEXT
McKendree will look to take the final game of the non-conference series with UIS on Monday afternoon. The third game will kick-off at 1 P.M. in Springfield.

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