LEBANON, Ill. - A home run allowed the Lincoln baseball team to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, but some late runs allowed McKendree to break the tie for a 12-7 win in the second game of a double-header on Saturday (April 18). The Bearcats also won the opener, 13-2.

McKendree (18-23, 10-13 GLVC) opened the scoring in game two with three runs in the bottom of the second inning, but Lincoln (6-32, 0-23 GLVC) got back within one in the top of the third. Daren Walters-Ansell led the frame off with a base hit and later scored on a wild pitch. Andy Srebroski IV singled, advanced to second on a walk issued to Jayden Little, then cut the deficit down to 3-2 by coming home on a base hit through the middle by Hunter Mitchell.

An RBI double and a three-run homer allowed the Bearcats to take a 7-2 lead in the bottom of the third, but the Blue Tigers began their comeback in the fourth. AJ Williams brought in the first run of the inning when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home Blythe Blakey. Mitchell later hit a bases-clearing double, scoring Williams, Srebroski and Felix Marquez to bring the Blue Tigers within 7-6. In the top of the fifth inning, Blakey homered to tie the game.

The Bearcats scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to break the tie, however, and tacked another score on the board in the sixth inning to clinch the win. Jonah Claborn struck out four batters as LU's starter on the mound while Ed Noy fanned one in a closing role. 

Mitchell had three hits and four RBI while Blakey and Srebroski each tallied two hits. Easton Stuckenschneider also recorded a hit in game two. On the defensive side, Stuckenschneider and Mitchell each notched five putouts, with Stuckenschneider also supplying two assists.

In the first game of the day, McKendree used a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to take the early lead, but Nolan Laughlin cut LU's deficit down to two in the second inning when he scored Stuckenschneider on a base hit. The Bearcats pulled away in the bottom of the second with seven runs in the bottom of the second, though, and held on for the victory.

Srebroski had the other run of the contest for the Blue Tigers, as he hit a two-out double and then scored on Stuckenschneider's outfield single. Srebroski and Stuckenschneider both had a pair of hits in game one, and Payten Hinton struck out a batter as LU's closer. Little led the Lincoln defense with nine putouts while Srebroski, Tim Fleming and Blake Holtmeyer had two apiece. Srebroski led LU with three assists, while Walters-Ansell, Blakey and Little each supplied two.

Lincoln and McKendree will close their season series on Sunday (April 19) with a 12:00 p.m. CDT contest.