(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 27) – The McKendree University softball team suffered an 8-0 loss in five innings to William Jewell College Friday in their first game at the Evangel University Early Bird tournament.

The Bearcats fell to 1-4 overall with the loss and will face College of St. Mary at 11 a.m. in their second game at the tournament.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when William Jewell scored three runs on two hits. The Cardinals scored five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on two hits and four McKendree errors to end the game.

Freshman Autumn Allen (Fairview Heights, Ill./Belleville East HS) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Belleville East) suffered her first collegiate loss in the game despite striking out five over four and two-thirds innings of work.

-McK-