LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University baseball (17-26, 12-12 GLVC) dropped the Great Lakes Valley series finale, 11-10, against William Jewell (29-16, 14-10 GLVC) but exited the weekend with a split overall versus the Cardinals, 2-2. McKendree went to 12-12 in GLVC play on the spring after winning the second game of Friday's double-header on a walk-off homer and Saturday's contest in a walk-off single. The Bearcats close out the regular season next weekend in St. Charles, Missouri against Lindenwood at Lou Brock Sports Complex.

McKendree looked for a series victory on the weekend but fell short after failing to produce a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth against the Cardinals at Hypes Field. The Bearcats scored one of three necessary runs in the final half inning after sophomore outfielder Joseph Copeland sent a bomb shot to right field. The hosting-Bearcats were unable to produce further runs following the solo home run. 

McKendree started off the day in stunning fashion, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first with a laser beam to right field by senior outfielder Corey Price. Price drove in two other Bearcats with senior infielder Alex Steinbach and freshman infielder Gavin Arseneau both making it home. McKendree added a fourth run in the third inning after WJC cut into its lead by one run. The fourth Bearcat run came via a sacrifice fly from senior infielder Joseph Costanzo, which drove Steinbach home, making the contest 4-1.

The Bearcats held their lead through the fourth but the visiting-Cardinals managed to string together a big inning in the fifth, scoring six runs in the process. The inning was capped off by a solo shot, which followed a three-run bomb, making the score, 7-4 in favor of Jewell. McKendree added one back in the sixth by wild pitch, which allowed Costanzo to score. 

William Jewell collected three more runs in the seventh behind a two-run homer and an RBI-triple to center field. The Cardinals went up 10-5 on the Bearcats in the inning. 

After the three-run top of the seventh, McKendree put together their own stretch, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the seventh. The half inning began with senior outfielder Ryan Hutchinson and Steinbach both reaching base as Price then drove Hutchinson home with a single. Copeland reached base after a mishap by the WJC defense, which then pushed Price to second base and Steinbach all the way home for the second run, 10-7. Costanzo then got in on the fun with a single blooper to left, getting Copeland to second and Price all the way home, 10-8. Junior outfielder Katom Parnell was looking to add on as well and reached via fielder's choice and, after a flurry of actions, allowed Copeland to reach home and cut the deficit to one run. 

William Jewell and McKendree held the 10-9 contest through the eighth. Jewell dropped in an RBI single in the top of the ninth to add an insurance run, 11-9. McKendree then put up one run via a shot by Copeland over the heightened right field wall. The Bearcats were unable to put up any further runs in the bottom half of the ninth, dropping the finale, 11-10. 

UP NEXT
McKendree baseball is back in action on May 6-8 in St. Charles, Missouri against the Lindenwood Lions in a four-game series to close out the regular season. The Bearcats will look for a series victory as they attempt to make the GLVC tournament for the first time in program history. 

Stay up-to-date with Bearcats Baseball by following the team on Instagram and Twitter.

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