Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., March 22)- The McKendree University softball team split its first Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division doubleheader on Friday, winning game one on a walk-off home run by sophomore outfielder Erica Johnson (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin).

The Bearcats are now 4-11 overall and 2-5 GLVC with the split, and will host No. 2 University of Indianapolis on Saturday for a doubleheader at Noon.

Game one appeared to be headed to extra innings tied 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, but one swing of the bat changed everything as McKendree took game one 5-4.

The Pumas scored twice in the first inning and another in the second to lead 3-0, before the Bearcats got on the board in the bottom of the inning. A single by junior outfielder Kay Koonce (Greenville, Ill./Greenville) down the right field line scored sophomore designated player Kelsie Stoszkus (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) from third. Junior outfielder Caitlin Stredde (Pingree Grove, Ill./South Elgin) followed with a hard-hit single to the outfield that brought in senior third baseman Dana Schulte (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) from third to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Saint Joseph's added another run in the fourth inning to extend its lead, but McKendree tied the game, 4-4, with two runs in the bottom of the frame. A double by Stredde scored junior second baseman Ashley Scheffler (Elgin, Ill./Burlington Central) from third, and Koonce scored on a flyout by sophomore first baseman Morgan Schulte (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) to knot up the score.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Johnson stepped up to the plate and sent a pitch over the centerfield wall to end the game 5-4.

Sophomore Susan Goetze (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central) improved to 2-1 overall on the season and had six strikeouts in the win. Stredde had three hits, including two doubles, and two RBI in game one.

The Pumas struck first again in game two, scoring one run in the first inning, only for the Bearcats to tie the game, 1-1, in the second inning on an RBI double by Scheffler that scored Johnson from second.

Saint Joseph's flexed its offensive muscle with two home runs over the final three innings of play to earn the 4-1 win.

Stoszkus fell to 0-6 with the loss and had two strikeouts. Scheffler had two doubles and an RBI to lead McKendree at the plate in game two.