(EAST PEORIA, Ill., May 4) – McKendree softball entered the day without a Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament win, tonight they leave the park with two and stay in the winner's bracket. The Bearcats (32-19) secured the upset win over top-seeded and nationally ranked Southern Indiana (41-11), 3-2.
"I thought we had a really good game plan going in off their ace. When it was there we were aggressive and that's when we are at our best" said head coach Ashley Fleming.
Senior first baseman Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth ) became the Bearcats' hero, sending a two-run bomb over the left center wall putting the Bearcats on top and shifting the momentum. Junior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) capitalized in the sixth, driving in the winning run with a RBI single, scoring pinch-runner Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs ).
Southern Indiana struck first in the contest with a run in the top of third, giving the Bearcats the tough task of scoring on GLVC Freshman of the Year Jennifer Leonhardt (24-2). Leonhardt had won 21 starts in a row with her last loss coming on February 26.
McKendree stepped up to the challenge with a pair of runs in the third and a run in the sixth. Starter Kylee Silliman (Fremont, IA/Oskaloosa ) (13-6) held down the Screaming Eagle offense allowing no walks and one strikeout, surrendering two runs on 11 hits.
USI created one last rally, scoring a run in the seventh frame, while also putting runners at the corners with one out. Senior Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X), out of the bullpen, forced a game-ending pop out to collect the save and the upset victory.
McKendree will be back in action Friday, May 5 as they take on No. 3 University of Missouri-St. Louis in a winner's bracket game at 1 p.m. A win and the Bearcats are in the championship game, a loss and they will play again at 5 p.m.
