ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team dropped a hard-fought contest to McKendree 4-3 in the opener of its four-game series on Friday afternoon at the UMSL Baseball Field. The Tritons fall to 24-15, 15-10 GLVC while the Bearcats improve to 13-25, 7-18 GLVC.
McKendree jumped on top with three runs on two hits and an error in the top of the first inning. Noah Nelson drove in the first run with a single through the left side of the infield that scored Joey Kossina. Kaid Muth reached on an error that allowed Michael Paule to score and Kyle Czarnecki brought home Nelson with a sacrifice fly to left center.
UMSL had chances getting its lead-off man on base in three of the first four innings but were unable to bring them around as Keegan McCarty held the Tritons without a hit through four innings.
UMSL broke through in the fifth against McCarty. With two out,
Jake Isaacs doubled inside the first bag and down the right field line for the Tritons first hit of the contest.
Braedon Stoakes followed with a triple to the gap in left center to bring home Isaacs. For Stoakes it was his ninth triple of the season tying the school's single season record.
Stoakes came into score when Paule was called for obstruction as he blocked the bag on a pickoff attempt at third to make it 3-2.
UMSL got the tying run to third in the sixth but
Mitchell Green hit a deep fly ball to right that was caught at the fence by the right fielder.
The Bearcats had a chance to add on in the eight as Paule led off the inning with a double to right center but
Trent Anderson struck out the next three hitters to keep it a one-run contest.
The Tritons tied the game in the home half of the eight on
Andrew Buescher's solo home run to right with one out in the frame.
McKendree retook the lead in the ninth. With one out, Brody Macak singled to right center, went to second on passed ball and advanced to third on a fly out in foul territory down the right field line. Harrison Toone drove him in with a single through the right side of the infield.
UMSL got the tying run on base in the last of the ninth as Green was hit by a pitch to start the frame.
Bryce Kulinski came on to run for Green and with one out stole second. He went to third on Isaacs' ground out to first but was left stranded as a strikeout ended the game.
The Tritons were held to three hits in the contest with Isaacs, Stoakes and Buescher recording one apiece. Anderson pitched the final two innings giving up an unearned run on four hits with four strikeouts to fall to 3-1 on the season.
UMSL and McKendree continue their four-game series with a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday at the UMSL Baseball Field.
