The Peacock baseball team opened their 2023 campaign in Alton, Ill. at Lloyd Hopkins Field against McKendree University on Saturday, but came up on the wrong end of a pair of high-scoring games. The Bearcats took game one 13-8 and then claimed the second matchup by a 7-4 count. McKendree (3-5) used a huge nine-run inning in the opening game and a pair of runs in three-straight innings in the second to get the sweep over Upper Iowa (0-2).
UIU outhit the McKendree 19-15 on the day, but couldn't push those opportunities across the plate. The Peacocks got three hits apiece from
Cael Luzum,
Ethan Sawyer and
Ryan Hull and home runs from Luzum,
Samuel Grushkin, Hull and
JJ Vargas.
The Peacocks and Bearcats will get together for a rematch in Alton on Sunday with a double header beginning at 11 a.m.
McKendree 13 – Upper Iowa 8
After McKendree scored a run without a hit in the first inning, the Peacocks were able to answer in the top of the third inning when Luzum homered to right center plating
Ryan Hull and
Bryce Hall, who both singled to left with one out.
UIU's lead didn't last long as the Bearcats posted nine runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a five-hit inning. The Peacocks didn't help their own cause allowing eight runs to score after the second out of the frame; UIU handed out four walks and hit a batter. When UIU got the final out of the inning, they trailed 10-3.
The Peacocks pulled within three, 10-7, thanks to four runs on four hits in the top of the fifth inning. Hull slugged a home run to left with one out and Grushkin brought Luzum and Vargas home with him on a homer to center.
After McKendree got a two-run long ball of their own in the bottom of the fifth, the Peacocks were able to get one run back in the top of the sixth when
Sage Stellmacher hit a rbi-single to plate
Alex Greene home after a leadoff double. UIU moved a pair of runners into scoring position with one out, but couldn't scratch the scoreboard again.
The Bearcats scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a solo blast to left field setting the final score at 13-8.
Keaton Parker (0-1) started and took the loss for Upper Iowa allowing eight runs, four earned, on four hits and four walks while striking out four Bearcats.
Isaiah Maes threw 2.2 innings of relief and allowed three runs on three hits with three strikeouts.
Owen Gross (1-1) picked up the win with 4.2 innings of work allowing seven runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Nate Arnold came out of the bullpen to hold Upper Iowa off over the final two innings to preserve the win.
McKendree 7 – Upper Iowa 4
The Peacocks scored a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to mark the scoreboard first in game two. Hull continued his hot start at the plate with a double to the gap in left center to send J Baehler and
Victor Plaz to the plate. McKendree answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame with a two-run shot to tie the game at 2-2.
In the third inning, Vargas knocked a solo shot over the wall in center to give Upper Iowa a slim 3-2 lead, but the Bearcats bounced right back with two more runs in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run and then added to their advantage with two runs in the bottom of the fourth with a sacrifice fly ball and another home run.
Upper Iowa scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to cut the margin back to two, 6-4. Hall doubled to right centerfield to open the inning and scored when Luzum followed with a run-scoring single.
In the bottom of the eight, McKendree got the run back on a pair of hits to set the final score at 7-4.
Colin Lacey (0-1) suffered the loss after seven innings in his first start of the season. The southpaw allowed six earned runs on five hits while striking out two batters.
Brandon Matthews scored the win for McKendree after throwing five innings on the mound allowing just three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
