(COLUMBIA, Mo., April 18)- The McKendree University softball team bounced back from a four-game losing streak on Monday with two five-inning wins over Stephens College in a American Midwest Conference doubleheader. The Bearcats won game one, 10-1, before taking game two, 14-1.

McKendree improved to 23-18 overall and 10-4 in the AMC and will close out its regular season conference slate on Wednesday in St. Louis, Mo., in a doubleheader at Missouri Baptist University at 2 p.m.

McKendree scored a run in both the first and third innings in game one on RBI singles by sophomore third baseman Dana Schulte (New Baden, Ill., Wesclin) and sophomore catcher Emily Mouyard (Johnson City, Ill., Johnson City HS), respectively, to lead 2-0 early. The Bearcats took advantage of six hits and four errors in the fourth inning to score eight runs and take a commanding 10-0 lead. The Stars scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, but couldn't overcome the deficit in the fifth inning to end the game.

Junior pitcher Autumn Allen (Fairview Heights, Ill., Belleville East HS) improved to 14-5 overall with six strikeouts, while only allowing one hit. Mouyard was 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored in the victory. Schulte also had two hits with two RBI and a run scored.

The Bearcats scored runs in every inning of game two to earn teh doubleheader sweep. McKendree hit for the cycle as a team in the first inning, with junior outfielder Kari Frazier (Lebanon, Ill., Lebanon HS) leading off with a home run in the bottom of the first inning, Mouyard hitting a double, Schulte hitting an RBI triple, and freshman outfielder Caitlin Stredde (Elgin, Ill., South Elgin HS) hitting an RBI single to give the Bearcats a 3-0 lead. McKendree added six runs on five hits and an error in the second inning to take a 9-0 lead, only for Stephens to score its lone run of game two in the third inning. The Bearcats answered with four runs, including a home run by Schulte that scored two, in the bottom of the third inning and added one more in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by freshman pitcher Heather Deering (Breese, Ill., Mater Dei Catholic HS) to cruise to the 14-1 five inning win.

Junior pitcher BethAnn Swartz (Urbana, Ill., Urbana HS) improved to 7-10 overall, pitching three innings and striking out three, to earn the win. Mouyard and Schulte were both a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game two, with Mouyard hitting a double with two RBI and three runs scored, and Schulte hitting a home run with four RBI and three runs scored.