SAUGET, Ill. – The Bearcats hosted the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds in their first GLVC series at home this season for a four-game series. Due to unforeseen circumstances at Hypes Field, the first game of the series was played on the campus of SIU-Edwardsville, while the final three games were played at GCS Ballpark, the home of the Gateway Grizzlies. The Greyhounds swept the Bearcats in the series by the scores of 7-4, 14-9, 18-1 and 8-6.
Friday, March 15 – Game 1
The series started with UIndy scoring two runs on two hits in the top of the 1st. Starting pitcher Jorden Eaton would settle down and not allow a Greyhound hit until the top of the 6th. UIndy added three more runs to make it 5-0 on four hits in the top half of the 6th.
The Bearcats got on the board in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded, Kyle Czarnecki singled to left field to score Michael Paule. The next batter, Kaid Muth singled to right field to score Noah Nelson and Brandon Roth to cut the deficit to two runs.
The Greyhounds made it a 7-3 game in the top of the 9th. Tommy Mohan, who pinch hit for Chyran Cruse, doubled down the right field line to bring Muth around to score, but that's as close as the Bearcats would get.
Stat Leaders
Kaid Muth: 2 for 3, 2B, 2 RBIs, run
Brandon Roth: 1 for 3, 2B, run, BB
Saturday, March 16 – Game 2
Under the lights at GCS Ballpark, the Bearcats and Greyhounds started with a scoreless game through 2.5 innings. In the bottom of the 3rd, Chryan Cruse launched his first home run of the season over the left field wall to make it a 1-0 game. With two outs and the bases loaded, Noah Nelson singled down the left field line to score Joey Kossina and Michael Paule which gave McKendree the 3-0 lead.
Skip ahead to the bottom of the 5th, Nelson hit a ground-rule double to center field that moved Roth to third base. Muth stepped to the plate next and doubled down the left field line to score both Nelson and Roth to extend the lead to 5-0.
Over the next three innings, UIndy scored 14 unanswered runs, including 8 in the top of the 7th to make it a 14-1 game. The Bearcat offense attempted to mount a comeback as they scored four runs in the bottom of the 8th, including Czarnecki hitting his second home run on the season, a three-run shot down the left field line.
Stat Leaders
Noah Nelson: 3 for 4, 2B, 2 RBIs, run, HBP
Kaid Muth: 2 for 4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBIs, HBP
Joey Kossina: 2 for 4, 2 runs, HBP
Kyle Czarnecki: 1 for 4, HR, 3 RBIs, run, BB
Sunday, March 17th – Game 3
The first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, did not start well for McKendree. The Greyhounds scored seven and three runs in the first two innings, respectively to make it 10-0. They added four more runs in the 4th inning.
McKendree's lone run came in the bottom of the 5th on a Brody Macak RBI single up the middle that scored Muth.
The Greyhounds added four more runs before the game was over to win 18-1.
Sunday, March 17th – Game 4
The UIndy offense remained hot scoring four runs to begin the final game of the series. After a quiet third and fourth innings, the Bearcats got on the board in the bottom of the 4th with three runs. The runs came via a Joey Kossina three RBI double to right field that scored Cruse, Macak and Muth.
In the next inning, McKendree took advantage of some Greyhound miscues to take the 6-3 lead. UIndy scored four runs in the top of the 7th to win the game.
Stat Leaders
Joey Kossina: 1 for 3, 2B, 3 RBIs, BB
Kaid Muth: 1 for 3, 2 runs, BB
The Bearcats will travel to Springfield, Illinois to battle the University of Illinois – Springfield Prairie Stars in a four-game series starting Friday, March 22nd.
