April 4, 2008

(LEBANON, Ill., April 2)--The McKendree University baseball team picked up an important American Midwest Conference doubleheader sweep Wednesday at home against William Woods University. The Bearcats cruised to a 12-2 win in game one before posting a 6-2 victory in the nightcap.

 

        McKendree head coach earned his 400^th career victory with the Bearcats' win in the second game. Now in his 11^th season at the helm of the Bearcat program, Boehne has a career record of 400-195-2. He is the all-time wins leader in McKendree baseball history.

 

        The victories push the Bearcats' overall record to 12-13. McKendree is now 3-1 in AMC play and will host Missouri Baptist Friday and Saturday at 1 p.m. in a key conference series for both squads.

 

        Junior first baseman Calvin O'Rear (DuBois, Ill./Nashville) and sophomore infielder Adam Davinroy (Shiloh, Ill./Althoff Catholic) helped provide the offensive spark for McKendree on Wednesday. O'Rear went 4-for-4 with a home run and six RBI in game one, while Davinroy was a perfect 5-for-5 in the opener and had six hits on the day.

 

        McKendree broke free for three runs in the first inning of game one. Davinroy led off with a double before a double down the right-field line by senior infielder Todd Harpstrite (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) put runners at second and third with one out. O'Rear delivered a two-run single to give the Bearcats a 2-0 advantage. The Bearcats proceeded to load the bases before sophomore outfielder Ryan Meyer (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) walked to force home O'Rear and close out the scoring for the inning.

 

        O'Rear belted a two-run home run in the second inning to extend McKendree's lead to 5-0. The Bearcats tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning to push its advantage to 8-0. O'Rear started the scoring with an RBI single before senior outfielder Anthony Clervi (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) added a two-run single.

 

        After William Woods (13-15, 1-3 AMC) scored its two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the McKendree lead to 8-2, the Bearcats answered with two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Junior infielder Tom Rose (Highland, Ill./Highland) provided a sacrifice fly ahead of another run-scoring hit by O'Rear. McKendree ended the contest with two runs in the sixth inning as Davinroy capped his perfect first game with a run-scoring double and Rose followed with an RBI single.

 

        McKendree rapped out a season-high 17 hits in game one, including the perfect 9-for-9 effort by Davinroy and O'Rear. Sophomore outfielder Shane McBride (Troy, Ill./Triad) added two hits and three runs scored for the Bearcats.

 

        Senior right-hander Adam Buehne (St. Rose, Ill./Breese Central) collected his first victory of the season. Buehne allowed four hits over five innings with three walks and four strikeouts.

 

        In game two, junior right-hander Joey Ullery (Mt. Vernon, Ill./Webber Township) also earned his first win of 2008 as he carried a perfect game into the fifth inning. The gem was broken up on a two-out single by Cody Morrow. Ullery pitched six innings and allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

 

        The second game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when McKendree broke through with two runs. With one out, junior catcher Craig Session (Centralia, Ill./Centralia) reached on an infield single. Two batters later, freshman Brad Dunnigan (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg) doubled to put runners at second and third. Rose delivered a two-run single to left that put the Bearcats in front 2-0.

 

        The Owls pulled within 2-1 on a single run in the top of the sixth before McKendree added four insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Rose drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the first run of the frame. After an error allowed the second run to come home, Davinroy walked with the bases still loaded to push the McKendree lead to 5-1. Freshman outfielder Tyler Muren (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) closed out the scoring when he reached on a fielder's choice allowing Rose to score.

 

        Rose finished game two with three RBI, while Session and Dunnigan each provided two hits for the Bearcats.