NORMANDY, Mo. – The Bearcats made their shortest trip of the season on April 19th through the 21st as they battled the University of Missouri – St. Louis Tritons. McKendree and UMSL would split the low-scoring series as the Bearcats took games one and four by the scores of 4-3 and 3-2. UMSL claimed both games in the Saturday doubleheader 3-2 (9 innings) and 4-2.
Game 1 – April 19th
The Bearcats offense got started early in the opening game of the series against the Tritons. In the top of the 1st, McKendree sent seven batters to the plate resulting in three runs on two hits with one UMSL error. Noah Nelson gave McKendree its first run with an RBI single through the left side of the infield that scored Joey Kossina. As Kaid Muth reached on a fielding error by the 3rd baseman, Michael Paule came around to score. Kyle Czarnecki finished off the offense in the inning with a sacrifice fly to left center that brought Nelson home for the 3-0 lead.
As starting pitcher Keegan McCarty hadn't allowed a hit through the first 4 innings, UMSL got their offense on the board in the bottom of the 5th. They scored two runs on two hits and one Bearcat error to make it a 3-2 game.
The Tritons tied it with a solo home run in the bottom of the 8th. McKendree was able to play some small ball to manufacture the winning run in the top of the 9th. With two outs and Brody Macak on third base, Harrison Toone found a hole on the right side of the infield to bring Macak home.
Nate Arnold picked up his first win of the season in relief in an inning and a third and striking out two.
Game 2 – April 20th
Looking to take a 2 games to none lead in the series, McKendree settled into a pitcher's duel with the Tritons. The Bearcats struck first on a Nelson sacrifice fly to right field to score Kossina. Czarnecki would reach first on a misplayed fly ball by the Triton catcher that let Paule come around to score for the 2-0 McKendree lead.
After a quiet few innings, UMSL found life in the bottom of the 7th. They tied the game using three hits and two McKendree errors to force extra innings.
As the game moved to the bottom of the 9th, UMSL used two bunts to move a runner to third base. They would complete the comeback by scoring on a wild pitch to take the contest by the score of 3-2.
Game 3 – April 20th
The nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader was another low scoring contest by the two sides. In the top of the 3rd, Noah Nelson singled though the left side of the infield, allowing Chyran Cruse to score to put the Bearcats up 1-0.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Tritons used five consecutive singles to plate three runs for the 3-1 lead. The next inning, they used another single to extend their lead to 4-1.
Down to their last inning, the Bearcats got back-to-back hits from Brandon Roth and Czarnecki to cut the lead to 4-2. The game would end with a fly out and consecutive strikeouts.
Game 4 – April 21st
Looking for the series split, the Bearcats were able to strike first in the top of the 1st. After Paule singled to left field and advanced to third on back-to-back wild pitches, Roth singled up the middle to bring Paule in. Two batters later, Macak singled up the middle as well to bring home Nelson to give McKendree the 2-0 lead.
The Tritons went to their bullpen in the top of the 7th. With two outs and Roth on second base after his double, Czarnecki reached on an UMSL error, allowing Nelson to score to bring the lead to 3-0.
After a strong 7 innings from starter Joey Kossina, McKendree went to their bullpen with a runner on first in the bottom of the 8th. Nate Arnold, making his second appearance of the weekend, loaded the bases. UMSL made it a 3-1 game on a walk with, then made it 3-2 on a fielder's choice. Arnold would get out of the inning with forcing a fly out to right field.
The Bearcats step out of conference play on Wednesday as they welcome the Blackburn College Beavers to Hypes Field with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
