EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - McKendree University baseball (17-25, 12-11 GLVC) took the third game of its Great Lakes Valley Conference series against William Jewell (28-16, 13-10 GLVC) after a slight delay, winning on a count of 15-14 over the visiting Cardinals. McKendree utilized a seventh inning charge which featured nine runs to take the lead over WJC, the offensive showing followed a one-hour lightning delay at Roy E. Lee Field. The Bearcats look for the series victory on Sunday, May 1, during Senior Day at Hypes Field. 

McKendree went down early in the Saturday evening contest with the Cardinals scoring four in the top of the first inning behind a double off the wall and a homer to right center.

McKendree managed to put one run up on the board in its initial stretch at the plate with freshman infielder Gavin Arseneau scoring in the inning. Arseneau secured a spot on second base with a deep double and was driven home by senior outfielder Corey Price. 

WJC managed another pair of runs in the third inning to push its lead to five runs, 6-1. 

McKendre slowly chipped away at the visiting-Cardinals lead, scoring one in the fourth behind a single by redshirt junior infielder Austin Francis, which drove in sophomore outfielder Joseph Copeland, making the game 6-2. In the fifth, McKendree then put up another pair of runs with Price blasting a shot to the batter's eye, which also brought home senior infielder Alex Steinbach and cut the lead to just two runs, 6-4. 

William Jewell put a stop to the Bearcats' comeback, scoring six total runs in the sixth and seventh innings, going up 12-5 on the host. McKendree tacked on a single run in the sixth behind a Francis bomb to left. 

Following the early goings in the seventh inning, the game was delayed for nearly one hour due to the presence of lightning in the area.

After the lightning delay, McKendree found a spark in its offense, which was kicked off by Arseneau sending a deep shot to left center. After the solo shot, McKendree went on a tear, putting up eight runs which was capped off by a three-run homer by graduate outfielder Ryan Hutchinson. The inning brought in nine runs on seven hits and a 14-12 lead for McKendree. The lead lasted through the eighth but WJC made it up in the ninth with two runs in the top half to tie the game. 

The bottom of the ninth was led off with a single by senior infielder JP Kehoe, who entered the game after Francis was injured in the seventh. Graduate catcher Mason Hale then was at the plate and laid down a sac bunt towards third base, allowing Kehoe to move to second base. Kehoe then advanced to third when junior outfielder Katom Parnell sent a foul ball high up and deep, which was caught for an out. The Bearcats then went back to Arseneau, who dropped a single into left field, driving Kehoe home and winning the game, which marked back-to-back outings where McKendree won via walk-off. 

The Bearcats collected the win, 15-14, after a lengthy, four hour battle with the Cardinals, including one inactive lightning delay break in the seventh inning.

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McKendree baseball will be back in action on Sunday, May 1, at HOME, Hypes Field, at 12 P.M. Senior day festivities will take place approximately 30 minutes before first pitch. 

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