ST. CHARLES, Mo. - McKendree University baseball (19-26, 14-12 GLVC) took the first two games of its series with Lindenwood (26-21, 15-11 GLVC) during a double-header outing on Saturday afternoon at Lou Brock Sports Complex. In both ends of the day, McKendree held off the opposing battery in the latter stretches of both games while its own battery held true to the season story and just hit. The Bearcats took game one of the pair, 8-7, and squeaked out game two as well, 4-3. 

With the two wins, McKendree is positioning itself for a berth into the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2013. The Bearcats will also be earning their first .500-or-better year in the GLVC since joining. 

GAME 1
The battery for the Bearcats did not wait long to make a splash in the top of the first with a pair of home runs to take a 3-0 lead in the opening half inning. Senior infielder Alex Steinbach kicked it off with a bomb shot to left field, which also brought in senior outfielder Ryan Hutchinson, who walked to get on base. Immediately following the Steinbach shot, senior outfielder Corey Price sent a long ball of his own over right center to make the lead 3-0 in favor of the Bearcats. 

The hosting-Lions claimed one run back in the bottom of the first with an RBI single, making the outing 3-1, Bearcats. 

In the third, the Bearcats put together a combination of hits with Hutchinson knocking a double to right center which was then followed with an RBI double by Steinbach. Senior infielder Joseph Costanzo dropped in a single to push Steinbach home and make it a 5-1 game for McKendree. 

Lindenwood hit a stride in the fourth with three runs, to cut the lead down to just one for the Bearcats. The Lions then came back in the sixth to take the lead with another three-run inning, going up 7-5. 

The lead for the Lions did not last long with McKendree putting up three in the top of the seventh. The inning began with a double by senior infielder JP Kehoe, who was driven home via a homer by Hutchinson to right center. Price then managed to drop in a single to center, he was brought home after sophomore outfielder Joseph Copeland knocked a base hit and a hiccup on the throw by the Lions. McKendree led 8-7 after the seventh concluded.

Behind sophomore hurler Owen Gross' 3.1 innings on the mound, the Bearcats pulled out the game one win, 8-7 with Gross getting the win.

GAME 2
The Bearcats scored an uncharacterisitc four runs in the second game but it proved to be enough for the day one sweep in St. Charles. McKendree once again used an early inning to nab the lead and did not look back. 

In the second, a string of hits brought in three runs with Costanzo driving in Copeland on a single, sophomore catcher Tommy Mohan clobbering a double to bring in Costanzo, and freshman infielder Gavin Arseneau dropping a single into left to bring home Mohan. The Lions brought in one run in the bottom half of the second, making it a 3-1 game in favor of the Bearcats. 

McKendree added its only necessary insurance run in the third inning with Steinbach sending a ball deep over center for a solo home run. The visiting-Bearcats took a 4-1 lead with the single-run inning. 

Lindenwood look to make a comeback in the second and third innings with one run in each but failed to score further. McKendree got the win, 4-3. 

Junior pitcher Mac Grant collected the complete game victory, which was his third of the year and moved him to 4-3 on the season. 

UP NEXT
McKendree baseball will conclude the series and regular season against Lindenwood on Sunday afternoon with a 1 P.M. (7 innings) and 3 P.M. (9 innings) double-header. With a sweep, McKendree will clinch a berth into the GLVC Tournament for the first time in program history (joined GLVC in 2013).

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