April 29, 2008

LEBANON, Ill. -- Calvin O'Rear saved his best for last Saturday (April 26) as the McKendree (Ill.) University baseball team closed out a doubleheader sweep of Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) College.

O'Rear blasted a game-winning, three-run home run in the seventh inning of game two in lifting the Bearcats past the Trojans, 5-2. It was home run No. 21 on the season for O'Rear, who moved past former NAIA Player of the Year Brian Dinkelman to claim McKendree's single season record for round-trippers. Dinkelman collected 20 home runs during his junior season of 2005.

McKendree opened Saturday's doubleheader with a 12-9, 10-inning victory over Hannibal-LaGrange. The twinbill was originally scheduled to be played in Hannibal, Mo., but was moved to Hypes Field due to wet field conditions at the Trojans' home facility. Despite playing Saturday's games at home, McKendree was considered the visiting squad.

The two wins give McKendree a 27-19 overall record and a 14-4 mark in American Midwest Conference play. The Bearcats have won 10 of their last 11 contests. Saturday's victories enabled McKendree to lock up the No. 2 seed in next week's AMC Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Missouri Baptist University.

In game two, McKendree trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning. Freshman outfielder Tyler Muren led off with a walk and was advanced to second on a sacrifice by freshman outfielder Ross Willman. Sophomore infielder Adam Davinroy tied the game with an RBI single that brought home Muren.

After a walk to senior infielder Todd Harpstrite, O'Rear stepped up and belted his record-breaking home run to give McKendree a three-run advantage. Junior right-hander Rusty Parke registered the last three outs to pick up his sixth win of the year. Parke allowed six hits with three strikeouts to boost his record to 6-3.

Senior outfielder Brandon Melliere put the Bearcats on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with a solo home run. It was Melliere's ninth homer of the season.

Game one featured plenty of offense with 21 runs scored and 26 hits. Harpstrite posted a career-high five hits with four runs scored and three RBI in the contest, while Melliere, Muren and senior outfielder Anthony Clervi each added two hits for the Bearcats.

McKendree scored at least one run in each of the first seven innings of play. An RBI triple by O'Rear in the first inning and a run-scoring single by Muren in the second staked the Bearcats to a 2-0 lead. Hannibal-LaGrange (22-22, 5-13 AMC) cut its deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the second before Melliere reached on a fielder's choice in the third inning to drive home Harpstrite. Clervi led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to build the Bearcats' advantage to 4-2. In the fifth, Harpstrite doubled and Melliere delivered a sacrifice fly for a 5-2 McKendree lead.

The Bearcats scored two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 7-2. Senior Jon Keener provided a pinch-hit RBI single ahead of Harpstrite's fourth hit of the contest, a run-scoring double. The Trojans countered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 7-6. After McKendree scored a run in the top of the seventh to stretch its margin back to 8-6, Hannibal-LaGrange forced extra innings by scoring twice in the bottom of the frame.

In the 10th inning, McKendree sent nine batters to the plate in scoring four runs to take a 12-8 lead. Harpstrite put the Bearcats in front to stay with a two-run single. After a run scored on a Hannibal-LaGrange error, Melliere closed out the scoring with an RBI single.

Senior right-hander Tyler Mattmiller tossed the final four innings to earn the victory in relief for McKendree. He allowed four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Junior right-hander Cale Johnson pitched the first six innings for the Bearcats, giving up six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

McKendree will be at Culver-Stockton College Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m. before closing out the 2008 regular season with an AMC doubleheader Monday at Hannibal-LaGrange College.