Lebanon, Ill. – The Lewis University baseball team fell 11-8 to McKendree Friday afternoon after a late ninth-inning rally came up short.

GAME RECAP
McKendree struck first in the bottom of the opening inning as Max Meuli delivered an RBI double to left center, giving the Bearcats an early 1-0 lead.

The Flyers answered in the second inning. Alex Chaltin (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) reached after being hit by a pitch and later came around to score on an RBI fielder's choice by Kyle Peterson (Orland Park, Ill/Carl Sandburg). Moments later, Constantine Coines (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home John Henry Russell (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) and put Lewis ahead 2-1.

McKendree responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Quest Hull opened with a solo home run before Gabe Deaver ripped a two-RBI triple to right field, helping the Bearcats reclaim a 4-2 advantage.

Lewis chipped away in the fourth when Cole Clemens (Marco Island, Flo.) scored on an RBI single from Jimmy Spellman (Chicago, Ill./Notre Dame College of Prep), cutting the deficit to 4-3.

The Bearcats broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with a five-run inning. Tylor Phommachanhom (Plainfield, Ill/Parkland CC) helped the Flyers respond in the fifth with an RBI double that scored Russell, trimming the deficit to 9-4.

McKendree added two more runs in the eighth, extending the lead to 11-4.

Lewis found their rhythm in the ninth inning with a four-run rally. Alex Chaltin (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) lined an RBI single to right center, Russell followed with an RBI walk, and a passed ball brought home another run. Peterson added a sacrifice fly to score Chaltin and cut the deficit to 11-8, but the comeback fell short as the final out sealed the game.

UP NEXT
The Flyers return to action Saturday, April 25, for a doubleheader against McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill. First pitch is set for 12:00 PM.