LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree baseball team battled the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy on Monday, March 3rd at Hypes Field. Behind a solid spot start from Adam Keeney and 12 hits by the offense, McKendree found the win column for the first time this season by the score of 15-4.
The Bearcats got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd thanks a misplayed ball by the UHSP second baseman on Hunter Sherman steal attempt, scoring Javy Garcia from third. A few batters later, Harrison Toone laced a double into left field to score Sherman. Batting in the two hole, Peyton Bittle followed Toone with the same result, a 2 RBI double to left field, scoring Toone and Chyran Cruse.
Cruse lead off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to left field which made it 5-0 in favor of McKendree. With the bases loaded, Isaiah Hoelscher found grass in center field to score Toone. The next batter, Kaid Muth reached on a fielders' choice scoring Bittle. With two men still aboard, Garcia got every piece of the pitch to clear the left field wall for a 3-run home run to extend the lead out to 10-0.
USHP got on the board in the top of the 6th on a wild pitch. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, Max Meuli singled to right field to send pinch runner Jack Taulman home. Cruse stepped into the box next and singled to right field to load the bases. Toone would send everyone station to station with his RBI single to make it a 12-1 game. Shane Noel was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded to score Meuli. With one out, Hoelscher singled up the middle to score Gavin Noreus and Elisha Sergeant to cap off the scoring for McKendree.
UHSP added three runs in their half of the 7th.
Adam Keeney got the win, his first in a McKendree uniform. Going four innings, he struck out seven and only allowed three hits.
