(SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 5)—The McKendree College softball team extended its win streak to a season-high 11 games with a doubleheader sweep Thursday at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The Bearcats cruised to a 10-0, five-inning victory in the opener before edging the Prairie Stars in game two, 4-3.

 

McKendree improves to 27-7 overall and remains undefeated in American Midwest Conference play at 8-0. The Bearcats are currently tied with Columbia College for the top spot in the AMC standings. McKendree will play host to Hannibal-LaGrange College on Tuesday at 2 p.m. for an AMC doubleheader.

 

Junior shortstop Courtney Aldridge (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) led the Bearcats offensively in game one. She was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and three runs batted in. Sophomore outfielder Kayla White (Buncombe, Ill./Vienna HS) (Buncombe, Ill./Vienna) also had three hits in the opener, including a double.

 

After a scoreless first inning, McKendree erupted for six runs in the second inning. After Aldridge opened the frame with a single, senior infielder Becky Sommer (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) belted an RBI double to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. Senior outfielder Andrea Hawkins (St. Peters, Mo./Ft. Zumwalt South) (St. Peters, Mo./Ft. Zumwalt South) followed with a run-scoring single to push the lead to 2-0.

 

After White drew a bases-loaded walk and junior outfielder Molly Reed (Carrollton, Ill./Carrollton) (Carrollton, Ill./Carrollton) added an RBI single, Aldridge closed out the scoring in the second with a two-run double to provide the Bearcats with a six-run cushion.

 

McKendree added four runs in the third, with all four runs coming after the first two batters were retired in the inning. Senior infielder Leah Cometto (Coulterville, Ill./Coulterville) (Coulterville, Ill./Coulterville) started the rally with a walk, and she scored when Reed reached on an error. Junior infielder Rachael Ostertag (O' Fallon, Mo./Francis Howell) (O’Fallon, Mo./Francis Howell), sophomore catcher Angie Maue (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin HS) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) and Aldridge all followed with RBI singles to round out the scoring for the Bearcats.

 

Sophomore right-hander Amy Quirin (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West HS) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) shut down Illinois-Springfield on just five hits to pick up the win on the mound for McKendree. Quirin did not walk a batter and struck out three in the contest.

 

The Prairie Stars took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap before McKendree grabbed the lead for good. The Bearcats plated three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. White led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Sommer. Reed, who had reached on a walk, scored on a Prairie Star error to put the Bearcats in front, and Hawkins added a two-out, RBI single to close out the scoring in the third.

 

Maue provided an RBI single in the fourth to give McKendree a 4-1 lead. Illinois-Springfield rallied with runs in the fifth and seventh innings, but the Bearcats were able to hold off the rally and complete the sweep.

 

Sommer finished with two hits in the contest. Junior Colene Pogue (Mason, Ill./Waltonville) (Mason, Ill./Waltonville) scattered 11 hits with six strikeouts to earn the victory for McKendree.