(LEBANON, Ill., March 7)- The McKendree University softball team played for the first time in 14 days on Monday afternoon and split a home-opening doubleheader against NCAA Division II Bemidji State University with a 1-0 loss in game one, and a 4-0 win in game two.

The Bearcats, 2-3 overall, will return to the diamond on March 11-13 at the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Both teams struggled offensively in game one and McKendree only had two hist in the loss. In the top of the ninth inning, second baseman Kayla Babinski hit a home run with a runner on first that should have put the Beavers in the lead 2-0, but Babinski failed to touch home plate and was called out to erase one run and make the score 1-0. The Bearcats failed to counter in the bottom of the frame and fell 1-0.

Junior pitcher Autumn Allen (Fairview Heights, Ill., Belleville East HS) gave up four hits and struck out 11, while walking three in the loss to drop her season record to 1-1 overall.

Senior first baseman Cathy Webb (Mascoutah, Ill., Mascoutah HS) and sophomore designated player Dana Schulte (New Baden, Ill., Wesclin) had the only two hits for McKendree in the contest.

In game two, the offense picked up for the Bearcats and a home run by sophomore catcher Emily Mouyard (Johnson City, Ill., Johnson City HS) with a runner on in the bottom of the second put McKendree in front, 2-0. A lead off triple by freshman Caitlin Stredde (Elgin, Ill., South Elgin HS) started things for the Bearcats in the sixth inning, and she scored one play later on a single by Webb to extend the Bearcats lead to 3-0. Schulte reached on a fielders choice later in the inning, and scored on a double by Mouyard on batter later to put McKendree up 4-0. Bemidji State faled to score in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Junior pitcher BethAnn Swartz (Urbana, Ill., Urbana HS) gave up six hits, but struck out eight with only one walk to improve to 1-1 overall this season.

Mouyard was a 2-for-3 in the game with a home run, a double, and three RBI.