(ST. CHARLES, Mo., March 21)- The McKendree University softball team earned a 3-2 win in game one, but lost 6-1 in game two of a doubleheader at Lindenwood University on Wednesday evening.

The Bearcats, now 9-13 overall, will host the McKendree Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

McKendree struck first in game one and took a 1-0 lead when freshman outfielder Eleni Polites (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman outfielder Erica Johnson (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) in the top of the first inning. The Lady Lions answered with solo home run by Alexandra Newcomb in the bottom of the frame to tie the game 1-1.

Freshman designated player Taylor Blackwell (Highland, Ill./Highland) drew a walk to lead-off the fourth inning and junior catcher Emily Mouyard (Johnson City, Ill./Johnson City) homered in the next at bat to push McKendree ahead 3-1. Lindenwood scored on a sac fly in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit to 3-2, but senior pitcher Autumn Allen (Fairview Heights, Ill./Belleville East HS) shut down the hosts over the final three innings, allowing no hits, to improve to 6-3 overall.

The Bearcats struggled in game two, only managing four hits and committing three errors, to come away with a split.

The Lions scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to lead 6-0, and McKendree scored its lone run of the contest in the top of the seventh inning on a single by freshman shortstop Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) that scored sophomore second baseman Kendyll Koester (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon HS).

Ponce led McKendree with three hits on the day and one RBI.