(EAST PEORIA, Ill., April 29)--The McKendree University softball team saw its 2016 season come to an end Friday afternoon with an 8-2 loss to Bellarmine University in an elimination game at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in East Peoria, Ill.

The Bearcats trailed just 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth before the Knights erupted for four runs in the frame to take control. McKendree closes its season with an overall record of 25-29. The Bearcats were making their first trip to the GLVC Tournament, which is being held for the 12th consecutive year at the Eastside Centre. 

Bellarmine (33-25) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before McKendree quickly tied the contest with a run in the top of the third. Sarah Radae reached on a one-out single. Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School) followed with a single and Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) drew a walk to load the bases. Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) then hit into a fielder's choice that scored Radae to even things at 1-1. Bellarmine answered with a tally in the bottom of the third to regain a 2-1 advantage.

The score stood until the bottom of the fifth, when the Knights used a three-run home run from Megan Bretz and a solo shot on the next pitch by Erica Knollman to extend its margin to 5-1. McKendree scored its final run of the day in the top of the sixth when Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) blasted a leadoff home run to center field. Bellarmine then scored three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win. 

Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) pitched the first 4 2/3 innings for McKendree, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with six walks and four strikeouts. Magre closed out her season with a record of 14-13 in the circle for the Bearcats.