Braedon Stoakes tied UMSL’s single season record with his ninth triple of the year on Friday. (Photo courtesy: UMSL Athletics)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKendree (13-25) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
| UMSL (24-15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
WP: Nate Arnold – MCK (1-1) LP: Anderson – UMSL (3-1)
DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer
NORMANDY, MO — The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team had its three-game winning streak snapped on Friday, when it suffered a 4-3 Great Lakes Valley Conference loss to McKendree at the UMSL Baseball Field.
McKendree led almost the entire game, after scoring its first three runs in the top of the first inning. But UMSL rallied with a pair of runs in the fifth and another in the eighth that tied the score at 3.
Unfortunately though, the visiting Bearcats were able to score a run in the top of the ninth, which proved to be the game-winner in a hard-fought battle between the nearby rivals.
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. It was Buescher’s team-leading 10th homer of the season.
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 on Saturday. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 12 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | MCK | UMSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | MCK | 1st | N. Nelson singled through the left side, RBI (0-0); M. Paule advanced to third; J. Kossina scored. | 1 | 0 |
| MCK | 1st | K. Muth reached on a fielding error by 3b, RBI (0-0); N. Nelson advanced to second; M. Paule scored. | 2 | 0 |
| MCK | 1st | K. Czarnecki flied out to cf to left center, SF, RBI (0-0); N. Nelson scored. | 3 | 0 |
 | UMSL | 5th | Stoakes, B. tripled to left center, RBI (0-0); Isaacs, J. scored. | 3 | 1 |
| UMSL | 5th | Stoakes, B. scored on an error by 3b, interference, unearned. | 3 | 2 |
| UMSL | 8th | Buescher, A. (10) homered to right field, RBI (3-1 BKBB). | 3 | 3 |
| MCK | 9th | H. Toone singled through the right side, RBI (1-2 FSFFB); B. Macak scored, unearned. | 4 | 3 |
UMSL TRITONS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Site | Opponent | Location | ||
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. | Home | McKendree | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Home | McKendree | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| April 21, 2024 (Sunday) | 1 p.m. | Home | McKendree | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| April 26, 2024 (Friday) | 2 p.m. | Away | Upper Iowa | Fayette, Iowa / Robertson Woods Field | ||
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 1 p.m. | Away | Upper Iowa | Fayette, Iowa / Robertson Woods Field | ||
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 4 p.m. | Away | Upper Iowa | Fayette, Iowa / Robertson Woods Field | ||
| April 28, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 p.m. | Away | Upper Iowa | Fayette, Iowa / Robertson Woods Field | ||
| May 2, 2024 (Thursday) | 2 p.m. | Home | Missouri S&T | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| May 3, 2024 (Friday) | 2 p.m. | Home | Missouri S&T | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| May 4, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. | Home | Missouri S&T | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| May 4, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Missouri S&T | UMSL Baseball Field | ||
| May 8, 2024 (Wednesday) | TBA | Neutral | GLVC Tournament | Marion, Ill. / Mtn. Dew Park |