(Blue Spring, Mo.-March 30)- The McKendree University softball team finished in second place at the Dennis Gault Tournament hosted by Avila University this weekend. The Bearcats finished Sunday with a record of 3-1.
McKendree, now 15-7 overall, will host Missouri Baptist University Tuesday for an American Midwest Conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
McKendree opened the day with a 15-0 five inning win over University of Saint Mary (Kan.). Sophomore pitcher Katie Ward (White Hall, Ill./North Greene HS) (White Hall, Ill./North Greene) struck out seven and only gave up two hits to improve to 4-1 on the season. McKendree banged out 16 hits in the win and had six players have multiple hits, including doubles by junior catcher Angie Maue (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin HS) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin), senior shortstop Courtney Aldridge (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) (Dupo, Ill./Dupo) and senior second baseman Colene Pogue (Mason, Ill./Waltonville) (Mason, Ill./Waltonville). Junior outfielder Kayla White (Buncombe, Ill./Vienna HS) (Buncombe, Ill./Vienna) also had a triple in the win.
In game two, McKendree scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth against host Avila University to come away with a 12-4 win in six. Senior Amy Quirin (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West HS) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) struck out four over her six innings to improve to 5-3 on the year. Aldridge, freshman infielder Nicole Steele (Danville, Ill./Schlarman), and junior outfielder Amber Nikolauzyk (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah HS) (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) all had two hits in the game, with Nikolauzyk hitting a double and having two RBI.
McKendree picked up their third win of the day in a non-conference game against Harris-Stowe State University. After allowing one run in the top of the first inning, the Bearcats scored six in the first and third innings, along with another three in the fourth inning to cruise to a 15-1 win in five innings. Pogue struck out three over five innings to improve 5-2 on the season. Senior designated player Ashley Wombacher (Breese, Ill./Breese Mater Dei) (Breese, Ill./Mater Dei) was 3-for-3 in the win with four RBI, and came up a triple short of hitting for the cycle, with a single, triple and a home run.
By way of winning their pool, the Bearcats met NAIA No. 10 Roger State University in the championship game, only to lose 5-3. The Hillcats led 3-0 heading into the third inning, but the Bearcats scored Nikolauzyk off a triple by White to cut the score to 3-1. Rogers State added two more in the bottom of the inning and two by McKendree in the top of the fourth brought them within two, only to stall offensively ending the game, 5-3. Katie Ward (White Hall, Ill./North Greene HS) fell to 5-2 on the season after pitching three innings and giving up five hits and five runs. White and sophomore designated player Christine Juehne (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin HS) (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) had two hits a piece in the loss, with White also having two RBI.
-McK-
