JOPLIN, Mo. - McKendree University baseball (1-5) grabbed its first win in the finale of its three-game weekend across the state of Missouri, beating Northwest Missouri State, 2-1, but dropping its two opening contests to Missouri Southern, 12-2, and Missouri Western, 13-8. The Bearcats will open their home slate this weekend with a four-game series against Upper Iowa on February 25-26 at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Alton, Illinois.
Game 1 | vs. Missouri Southern
The Bearcats searched for their first win in the MSSU Invitational opening round, beginning off strong as they took a lead in the fourth inning.
Senior outfielder
Katom Parnell drove in redshirt sophomore infielder
Kyle Czarnecki, who reach on a single through the middle. Parnell dropped a shot into left center, turning the hit into a triple to get the Bearcats a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
MSSU came back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four to take the lead, 4-1.
McKendree scored again in the fifth as redshirt junior infielder
Chyran Cruse blasted a homer to left field, making it a 4-2 contest.
The Bearcats were unable to muster further runs in the contest as Missouri Southern went on to score eight-straight, making it a 12-2 contest.
Junior hurler
Owen Gross took the loss on the day but threw seven strikeouts in his five innings of work.
Game 2 | vs. Missouri Western
In the Saturday matchup with Missouri Western, McKendree went down early as the Griffons scored four runs in the first inning.
The Bearcats got one back in the second inning when junior infielder
Brett Freiberg knocked a single past third, driving in junior infielder
Noah Nelson, cutting the deficit to just three runs.
Scoring subsided until the sixth with McKendree adding a pair of runs to make the game 4-3. Nelson dribbled a ball to second, forcing the Griffons to make a decision and allowing Czarnecki to score while getting the force at first. Redshirt junior
Brody Macak then drove home graduate infielder
Austin Francis with his own ground-out to second.
Missouri Western went on a tear in the bottom of the sixth, seventh and eighth with nine runs total while the Bearcats got one more in via a Cruse single, which brought in Parnell. McKendree trailed 13-4 after the eighth.
The Bearcats pushed for a late comeback with four runs in the ninth as Czarnecki knocked in junior utility
Joey Kossina before Nelson bombed a ball beyond the left field fence for a two-run homer. Czarnecki scored on the home run.
McKendree dropped game two of the weekend, 13-8.
Game 3 | vs. Northwest Missouri State
McKendree broke the win column ice during the Sunday afternoon contest as the Bearcats beat the Bearcats.
McKendree started off its offense in the bottom of the sixth with Parnell collecting a pair of RBIs behind a single which turned into extra bases. Czarnecki and Francis both reach base via walk prior to Parnell's hit. The senior outfielder advanced to second on a fielding error by the shortstop, allowing Francis to waltz home in the process as well. McKendree led Northwest Missouri, 2-1, at the end of inning six.
Northwest Missouri took one run back in the top of the eighth behind a solo home run, making it a 2-1 game for McKendree. The Bearcats of McKendree held off Northwest Missouri for their first victory of 2023.
Three hurlers contributed for McKendree with redshirt sophomore
Ryan Drayer, Kossina, and graduate
Brandon Matthews, all tossing in the contest. Kossin got the victory with 3.2 innings and two strikeouts. Matthews got the save with three innings to finish the game. Drayer threw two clean inning with five strikeouts total.
UP NEXT
McKendree baseball plays host to future Great Lakes Valley Conference member Upper Iowa on Saturday, February 25, and Sunday, February 26, with two 7-9 / 7-9 double headers. Saturday will begin at 12PM while Sunday kicks-off at 11AM.
