(LEBANON, Ill., March 30)- The McKendree University softball team split its two games on Friday, losing game one to Hannibal-LaGrange University, 8-7, before defeating University of Michigan-Dearborn, 11-2, in six innings.

The Bearcats are now 12-16 overall and will host Missouri Baptist University at 11:30 a.m., and Park University at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 31st.

McKendree 7, Hannibal-LaGrange 8

McKendree held a 7-2 lead after five innings before surrendering six runs in the sixth inning to lose 8-7 to Hannibal-LaGrange University.

A solo home run by freshman shortstop Caty Ponce (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) put the Bearcats in front in the first inning, 1-0, only for the Trojans to counter with a run in the top of the third inning to tie the game 1-1.

McKendree scored two unearned runs in the third inning, the first on a double by freshman first baseman Morgan Schulte (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) and the second on an error by the first baseman, to regain the lead 3-1.

Each team scored a run in the fourth inning and the Bearcats jumped out to a 7-2 lead on a three-run home run by senior rightfielder Kari Frazier (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon HS) in the fifth inning.

The Trojans scored six runs on seven hits and an error in the sixth inning to take an 8-7 lead and the win.

M. Schulte and Frazier each had two hits in the game, while sophomore pitcher Kay Koonce (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) fell to 1-3 overall with the loss.

McKendree 11, Michigan-Dearborn 2 (6 inn.)

After trailing 2-0 after the first half inning, McKendree scored at least one run in five of its six at-bats on the day to earn a 11-2 win in six innings over the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

The Bearcats took advantage of three errors by the Wolves in the first inning, scoring four runs on only one hit, to take a 4-2 lead.

In the second inning, freshman centerfielder Erica Johnson (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) hit an RBI single to score Ponce to extend the lead to 5-2.

A double up the middle by sophomore leftfielder Caitlin Stredde (Pingree Grove, Ill./South Elgin) in the third inning scored sophomore second baseman Kendyll Koester (Lebanon, Ill./Lebanon HS) and junior third baseman Dana Schulte (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin), and Stredde would score in the inning on an error by the catcher to jump out to an 8-2 lead.

Stredde scored again in the fifth inning on an error by the third baseman, and a single by Frazier in the sixth inning scored freshman designated player Eleni Polites (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) and junior pinch runner Madi Exton (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) to end the game by run-rule, 11-2.

Johnson and junior catcher Emily Mouyard (Johnson City, Ill./Johnson City) each had two hits in the game, and freshman pitcher Taylor Blackwell (Highland, Ill./Highland) improved to 2-4 overall with five strikeouts in six innings pitched.