LEBANON, Ill. – Taking advantage of warm weather in February, the Bearcats had their home opener on Tuesday, February 27th against Westminster (Mo.) College at Hypes Field. McKendree used their offense to propel them to a 10-7 win over the Blue Jays.
After WC took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, the Bearcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. It started with a Brandon Roth double to right center that brought home Michael Paule and Joey Kossina to make it 2-1. McKendree also scored on a bases loaded walk by Harrison Toone.
In the bottom of the 4th, Kyle Czarnecki singled up the middle that brought Kossina home to make it a 4-1 game. Two batters later, Roth hit a shot to right center field gap, trying to stretch it into a triple, he was thrown out, but Paule and Czarnecki would score to make it 6-1 McKendree.
Westminster got it back to with three runs as they scored two in the top of the 5th. McKendree extended the lead back out to five runs as Peyton Bittle doubled to right center to score Noah Nelson. As the lineup flipped back to the top, Kossina singled up the middle to score Toone that made it 8-3.
The Blue Jays cut the lead to 8-6 after plating three runs in the top of the 6th. The Bearcats added a couple insurance runs in the bottom of the 7th as Roth scored Czarnecki and Nelson singled through the left side to score Brody Macak.
McKendree returns to action this weekend as they take on Hillsdale College at Maryville University with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Stat Leaders
Joey Kossina: 3 for 5, 2B, RBI, 2 runs, BB, 3 SBs
Michael Paule: 2 for 4, 2 runs, 2 BBs
Brandon Roth: 2 for 4, 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs, run, BB
Noah Nelson: 3 for 4, 2 2Bs, RBI, run, BB
