JOPLIN, Mo. – McKendree baseball pulled off the upset against Minnesota State-Mankato, who was ranked #11 in extra innings at the Lion's Classic at Warren Turner Field this weekend.
Game One | Missouri Southern State 7, McKendree 2
Walker Sweet (W: 1-1); Trey Cole (L: 0-2) | Save: Michael Mulhollon (1)
In the first game between the Lions and the Bearcats, the Lions got out to a two-run lead in four innings. In the top of the fifth, Quest Hull got McKendree on the board with an RBI single to right field which pushed Tyler Butash home to cut into the deficit.
In the following inning Javy Garcia blasted a ball to left field to make the score 3-2. Unfortunately, it would be all Missouri Southern after that tacking on four more runs in the seventh and eighth inning.
Hunter Sherman and Peyton Bittle also found themselves in the hit column.
Trey Cole added five strikeouts and only allowed four hits in his six innings of work.
Game Two (11 Inn.) | McKendree 5, #11 Minnesota State-Mankato 4
Owen Dunn (W: 1-0); Louis Magers (L: 0-1)
The highlight of the weekend came from knocking off #11 Minnesota State-Mankato in extra innings.
On the offensive side, Sage McMinn got the Bearcats on the board with an RBI in the third. Gavin Arseneau really made a difference, accounting for three of McKendree's five runs. Arseneau first struck in the fourth where he had a two-RBI double that put Hull and Butash over the plate. This would tie the game at three at the bottom of the fourth.
In the following inning, McMinn and Sherman pulled off the double steal. As Sherman took second, McMinn stole home to give McKendree the 4-3 lead. Minnesota State-Mankato would then later tie the game up at 4-4 in the ninth, which would send it to extra innings.
Then in the bottom of the 11th, McMinn hit a hopping ground ball to the shortstop where he was unable to make a clean throw to the first basemen. As the ball went out of play, Arseneau rounded third to score the game winning run.
Max Meuli also added two hits to the Bearcats total.
Bearcats bull pen really stepped up in the game, keeping the Mavericks scoreless in eight innings while striking out 14 batters!
Josh Dima got the start on the mound where he struck out five batters in three innings. Following him was Davis Beale where he was stellar through his four innings as he stuck out six batters and didn't allow a hit. Parker Johnson and Rhett Detering also kept them hitless through their combined two innings.
With the game tied Owen Dunn came in for the extra innings and shutout the Mavericks in the clutch. He struck out two of the six batters he faced and didn't give up any free bases.
Game Three | Missouri Southern State 8, McKendree 2
Carter Stover (W: 1-1); Adam Galdoni (L: 1-1)
In the second game against Missouri Southern State, it was unfortunately a similar result to the first matchup.
McKendree had a brief lead getting on the board first in the first inning after Arseneau took advantage of an error by the Lions second basemen. Sherman would also add another RBI in the eighth inning to get the Bearcats second run of the game.
Bittle, Garcia, Hull and Gabe Deaver would all also get one hit in the game.
The Bearcat bullpen would combine for a total of nine strikeouts.
Next Up
McKendree opens play at Hypes Field with a four-game series against the University of Findlay. The first game will be on Friday at 12:00 p.m. Then on Saturday there will be a doubleheader at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. They will then close the series on Sunday with a game at 12:00 p.m.
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