Lake Wales, Fla. – Freshman Kevin McCune (Munster, Ind./Andrean) was a force at the plate as the Purdue Northwest baseball team split a road doubleheader with Warner University (Fla.) Monday afternoon at Royals Field in Lake Wales, Fla. The Pride scored seven runs in the top of the seventh for a convincing 15-3 victory in game one, but gave up five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to fall 7-6 in the late game. McCune went a combined 4-for-8 with three doubles, three runs scored and six RBI.

The PNW offense came out strong in the top of the third inning plating six runs in the frame with the big hit, a three-run homer to centerfield by senior Jacob Lane (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central). An error by the Royals in the top of the fourth inning helped the Pride score another run to extend their lead to 7-0. A pair of RBI singles by Warner in the bottom half of the fourth and a solo homer in the fifth made the score, 7-3.

However, McCune hit a RBI single to centerfield in the top of the sixth and Purdue Northwest added seven more runs in the seventh to pull away. Sophomore Alex Roy (Eureka, Mo./Bowling Green) hit a two-run double to left field and McCune added a three-run double down the left field line to power the impressive final inning. Freshman Chad Patrick (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) notched the victory (2-0) on the mound for the Pride in game one. He threw the first four innings and allowed five hits, two runs (one earned) and four walks with four strikeouts.

Purdue Northwest got off to another fast start in the second game Monday scoring three runs in the top of the second inning off a bases-loaded walk by senior Mike Mikulich (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) and a two-run double to centerfield by junior Austin Kordik (West Chicago, Ill./Community). The Royals got a solo homer in the bottom of the second and a RBI double in the fourth to draw within a run, 3-2. The Pride answered with two more runs in the fifth off a RBI double to the gap in left centerfield by McCune and a RBI single to right field by junior Evan Finke (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) to push their lead to 5-2.

Lane put PNW up 6-2 with a RBI single to left field in the top of the seventh. However, Warner loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh and proceeded to score five runs winning the game on a RBI single to center. Junior Joe Davi (New Lenox, Ill./Joliet JC/Lincoln-Way Central) suffered the loss (0-1) in relief pitching a third of an inning and giving up two hits, one run (earned) and no walks with a strikeout. Junior Kyle Flessner (Thomasboro, Ill./Rantoul Township) got the start in game two for PNW pitching 5.2 innings and allowing two hits, two runs (both earned) and four walks with four strikeouts.

Purdue Northwest (5-2 overall) heads to Daytona Beach, Fla., on Tuesday, March 13, for a road doubleheader against Embry Riddle University. The first game of the pair begins at 1 p.m. CT at Sliwa Stadium in Daytona Beach.