CALREMORE, Okla. – The Bearcats went on the road for the second weekend of the 2024 campaign to the Sooner State for a three-game set against the Rogers State University Hillcats. RSU took all three games from the Bearcats by the scores of 8-5, 7-6, and 6-4.
Game 1
After RSU opened the scoring with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the 1st, McKendree used the long ball to take the lead. Noah Nelson launched a three run shot to right center for his first of the season to make it 3-1 McK.
RSU answered with four unanswered runs which made it 5-3 Hillcats going into the top of the seventh. McKendree took advantage of a field mishap by the RSU's shortstop as Joey Kossina reached base to score Michael Paule to get the Bearcats within one. Kaid Muth singled to left field in the top of the 8th to tie the game up at 5.
Rogers State added three runs in the bottom half of the 8th to take the opening game of the series.
Stat Leaders
Kyle Czarnecki: 4 for 5, 2B, run
Brody Macak: 2 for 4, BB, run
Noah Nelson: 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBIs, run
Kaid Muth: 2 for 4, RBI
Game 2
In the middle game of the series, McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Chyran Cruse drew a bases loaded walk, followed by Brandon Roth scoring on a wild pitch. RSU scored four unanswered in the next two innings to make it 4-2 Hillcats through two.
Kyle Czanecki took the second pitch he saw and doubled to left center, which scored Kossina to make it 4-3. Rogers State extended the lead back out to a four run gap through five innings of play. McKendree attempted to mount a comeback that started with Czarnecki reaching on a fielders' choice with the bases loaded and Michael Paule scoring in the 7th. Harrison Toone reached on another fielders' choice in the 8th that score Cruse. Kossina made it a 7-6 ballgame in the top of the 9th with his first home run of the season to right field.
Stat Leaders
Joey Kossina: 1 for 4, HR, RBI, 3 runs, BB
Chyran Cruse: 1 for 3, RBI, run, BB
Game 3
Tommy Mohan tied the final game of the series at one with his first home run of the season in the top of the 2nd. After RSU made it 2-1 in the bottom half of the 2nd, Michael Paule hit his conference leading fourth long ball of the season which made it 3-2 McKendree.
The Hillcats tied the contest once more in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single, but Kossina converted on an RBI single of his own up the middle that scored Nelson to give McKendree the lead at 4-3.
Rogers State would take the lead for good on a 2-run home run in their half of the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the 7th to cap the scoring at 6-4.
Stat Leaders
Joey Kossina: 2 for 4, RBI, run
Michael Paule: 1 for 3, HR, 2 RBIs, run, BB
Tommy Mohan: 1 for 4, HR, RBI, run
