McConachie Delivers Walk-Off as Bobcats Split with SWIC

The Frontier Community College Bobcats Baseball team welcomed Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) Blue Storm to FNB Field on Friday, April 3 for a doubleheader.

Game 1 – Southwestern Illinois 9, Frontier 0

SWIC used a five-run fifth inning to pull away and defeat Frontier 9-0 on Friday.

Southwestern Illinois opened the scoring in the first inning when Carter Bleakney singled to bring home a run.

The Blue Storm broke the game open in the fifth, plating five runs on three hits. Max Oswald, AJ Bertsch, and Ryan Colucci each drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs. Caleb Boff induced a fielder's choice that brought in another run, and Filippo Baratta added an RBI single.

Brock Fearday earned the win for SWIC, allowing three hits over six scoreless innings while striking out two and walking two. Aaron Buffington took the loss for Frontier, going three innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out four and walking three.

Justin Early led the Bobcats with two hits in four at-bats. Frontier turned one double play and played clean defense, committing no errors. Jordan Carter led the team with six defensive chances.

SWIC collected nine hits in the game, led by Bleakney, who went 4-for-5. Quinn Boyer added two hits, while AJ Bertsch and Max Oswald each drew three walks as the Blue Storm finished with 10 total walks.

Game 2 – Frontier 6, Southwestern Illinois 5

The Bobcats responded in game two with a thrilling 6-5 walk-off victory over Southwestern Illinois.

Frontier opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Mayes Gosser.

SWIC answered with a big second inning, scoring five runs on five hits to take a 5-1 lead. The key hit came from Cam Heinold, who delivered a three-run single.

Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats completed the comeback. Justin Early tied the game with an RBI groundout before Sean McConachie delivered the game-winning moment with a two-run double.

Nate Stivers earned the win in relief for Frontier, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two. Ian-Olivier Beaulieu started for the Bobcats, giving up five runs on 10 hits over five innings with four strikeouts. Chase Knebel started for the Blue Storm, allowing three runs on four hits over two innings.

Early and McConachie each drove in two runs to lead the Bobcats offensively. Cam Napier paced Frontier with three hits, while Gael Salinas added two hits.

Southwestern Illinois finished with 11 hits, led by Colin Ryder's 3-for-3 performance. Jackson Stanek and Jake McGhee also recorded multiple hits, while Heinold drove in two runs.

With the split against SWIC, Frontier is now 23-14 overall. The Bobcats host Lincoln Trail today at 3 p.m. at FNB Field. Coverage will also be available on the Bobcat Nation YouTube channel.