(LEBANON, Ill., May 4) – Senior right hander Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) put on a pitching clinic as McKendree softball (31-19) ran their way past Truman State (35-20) in the opening round of the GLVC Championship Tournament, 4-1.

"Every single person contributed to the win today and I am very proud of them" said McKendree head coach Ashley Fleming.

Tossing her 13th complete game of the year, Magre allowed one run on five hits while recording nine strikeouts.

A two-run seventh inning put the cherry on top for the Bearcat offense, who compiled 10 hits on the day.  Pinch-hitter Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) sparked the rally with a double and moved in to scoring position following a Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame ) sacrifice bunt. Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) roped a single to right scoring Branch, followed by a RBI double off the bat of Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth ) to give the Bearcats a 4-0 lead.

The Bearcats scratched one across in the second frame to strike first. Lowry collected a two-out RBI single scoring Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin), who reached on an error. Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) drove in the Bearcats second run of the day, scoring Lowry in the fifth.

Magre worked out of a pair of jams for the Bearcats in the bottom of the fifth and sixth. Despite a pair of runners on base, Magre buckled down picking up back-to-back strikeouts to send the Bearcats back to the dugout on both occasions.

The Bulldogs denied McKendree of a shutout, scratching a run across in the seventh following a triple by GLVC Player of the Year Christa Reisinger.

With the win, the Bearcats stay in the winner's bracket and will face off against top-seeded Southern Indiana tonight at 5 p.m.