FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

LEBANON, Ill. (Apr. 4, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside baseball squad was unable to keep pace with the hot-hitting of host McKendree University on Saturday afternoon, falling 13-3 and 8-1 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at Hypes Field.
 
In the opener, the Rangers (6-13, 5-11 GLVC) were unable to push across any runs until the top of the ninth as the host Bearcats (7-17, 6-10 GLVC) tallied the first 13 runs of the game.
 
McKendree got on the board in the second inning before pushing its advantage to 2-0 with another run in the fourth inning. A three run outburst in the fourth inning followed a six run fifth, building a 11-0 lead. McKendree added two more in the bottom of the eighth, securing a 13-run lead.
 
Patience at the plate paid off in the ninth inning with the Rangers accruing six walks and pushing across three runs but the rally was stymied with a strikeout to end the game. Jake Kolasinski and DJ Peltz led off the inning with walks while Nick Janssen loaded the bases with one out. Zach Thompson brought in the inning's first score with a base on balls while AJ Kaprelian and pinch hitter Ryan Hollander both collected RBI walks.
 
Troy Bittenbender and AJ Kaprelian paced the Ranger at the plate, each finishing two-for-three.
 
Mario Samuel was saddled with the loss, striking out four and allowing five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. McKendree's Jacob Renfrow tallied the win, tossing eight innings and allowing no runs.
 
In game two the contest was knotted at 1-1 before the Bearcats opened up the game with a six-run scoring surge in the fifth inning.
 
McKendree staked a 1-0 lead in the third inning but UW-Parkside answered in the fourth inning, tying the game on a Janssen sacrifice fly. Peltz opened the inning with a double to right field, advancing to third after Bryan Wade laid down a sacrifice bunt before coming home on the Janssen sac fly.
 
Five runs morphed into six runs for McKendree in the fifth inning while tacking on an additional run in the sixth to finish off the game's scoring.
 
Parkside's Riley Phillips was hit with the loss, pitching the opening 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs while striking out two while McKendree's Sam Lidisky claimed the complete game win, tossing all seven innings and fanning five batters.
 
The Rangers and Bearcats return to the diamond on Sunday, closing out the series with a twinbill beginning at 12 p.m.