ALTON, Ill. | Lloyd Hopkins Field - McKendree University baseball (4-6) captured a series victory last weekend with a 3-1 showing against Upper Iowa during its home opening string of games. The Bearcats cranked up the offensive power during the outings, totaling 30 runs in four contests.McKendree swept the Saturday double-header and split the pair of Sunday outings. McKendree is back on the field on Saturday, March 4, adn Sunday, March 5, against Northern State at Lloyd Hopkins Field.

GAME 1 | February 25 (7inn.)
The Bearcats added a leading-run quickly in the first game of the series with junior Chyran Cruse crossing home plate in the first inning for a 1-0 advantage. Cruse reached base via walk to begin the order for McKendree while also grabbing a stolen base when advancing to second. 

Upper Iowa jumped into the lead with a three-run shot in the top of the third period, making it a 3-1 game. The Peacocks lead did not last long as McKendree racked up runs in the bottom half of the third. Redshirt sophomore infielder kicked it off for the Bearcats with a single to left center, being driven home by junior infielder Noah Nelson, who knocked a deep double. Nelson was brought around by graduate outfielder Eliott Wilk, who dropped a single before stealing both second and third. Junior infielder Brett Freiberg fired a double, bringing home both Wilk and graduate infielder Austin Francis. UIU made a pitching change as Cruse came back to the plate, where the Bearcats then put up three more runs to lead 8-3. Another pitching change occurred for the visitor but McKendree managed another two runs. The pair of runs to make it a 10-3 game came via junior utility Joey Kossina and his hard-hit double to right center, which brought in Czarnecki and Cruse. The Bearcats totaled nine runs in the bottom of the third. 

Upper Iowa put up five runs between its fifth and six innings while McKendree tacked on three more between the fifth and sixth. 

The Bearcats exited victorious in their home opener as redshirt junior hurler Owen Gross got his first win of the year. Gross totaled 4.2 innings with six strikeouts.

McKendree totaled 12 hits with six extra-base knocks and four stolen bases. 

GAME 2 | February 25 (9inn.)
The Bearcats looked for a third-straight win in the tail end of the Saturday double-header, using a late push in the latter contest to collect the win. 

The Bearcats went down in the second as UIU put up two runs but came back in the following half inning to tie it 2-2. The pair of runs in the bottom of the second were put up via homer from junior infielder Michael Paule, which also brought in Freiberg. 

UIU added another in their third inning, taking a 3-2 lead but it again did not last as McKendree added two more in the bottom of the third. McKendree grabbed the 4-3 lead with a bomb shot by Cruse to left center, which also brought redshirt sophomore catcher Kaid Muth. 

The Bearcats went for two more in the fourth inning was Wilk scored off a sac fly by Paule and then graduate outfielder Katom Parnell sent a shot over the left field wall, making it a 6-3 advantage for McKendree. 

McKendree and UIU both added one more in the game, 7-4, as the Bearcats collected the win. Graduate pitcher Brandon Matthews got the win with five innings and four strikeouts. Redshirt junior Devin Radke earned the save. 

GAME 3 | February 26 (7inn.)
The Bearcats struggled in the third game of the weekend with UIU putting up 16 runs during the contest. 

Paulle and Cruse both tallied homers in the game as Paule's brought in Czarnecki while Cruse's was the final run for McKendree. Freiberg pushed a run through with his single in the fourth, driving-in 

McKendree dropped game three, 16-4. Bearcat pitchers totaled nine strikeouts in the contest.

GAME 4 | February 26 (9inn.)
Searching for the home series win, the Bearcats did not wait long to start up their offense with three runs in the bottom of the first. Nelson began things as he brought in Cruse with a single after Cruse reached via single to begin the inning. Junior catcher Tommy Mohan wrapped up the inning for the Bearcats with a single dropped into center, rounding up Paule and Nelson to make the game 3-0 for McKendree.

In the bottom of the third, Paule added another bomb to his weekend resume with Czarnecki scoring on the play. Bearcats held a 5-0 lead after three innings. 

McKendree added its final run of the game and weekend in the fifth inning as Mohan added another single, allowing Wilk to score and make it a 6-0 lead. 

UIU added one in the eighth to cut the lead to five runs (6-1) but was not able to get through the Bearcats Sunday staff. redshirt sophomore Ryan Drayer earned the win with 4.0 innings tossed and three strikeouts. McKendree totaled nine strikeouts overall and allowed just five hits.

UP NEXT
McKendree hosts Nothern State on March 4-5 at Lloyd Hopkins Field for a four-game series. The series was shifted and will now feature two double-headers with Saturday beginning at 12PM and Sunday starting at 11AM. Both days will feature a 7/9 inning format.

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