Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., March 21)- The McKendree University softball team got a walk-off single by junior pitcher Kelsie Stoszkus (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) with two on and two outs in game two on Saturday to earn a doubleheader split against visting University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

The Bearcats are now 8-11 overall and 3-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and will host Lewis University for a doubleheader on Sunday at Noon.

McKendree led 6-5 heading into the sixth inning in game one, but a two-run home run in the top of the sixth was too much to overcome in a 7-6 loss.

The Rangers scored four runs in the top of the third, but the Bearcats scored four of their own in the bottom of the inning to knot the game up at 4-4. Junior third baseman Lindsay Schmitz (Streator, Ill./Streator Township) hit a single that score junior shortstop Kate Mayes (Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville) to get McKendree on the board, and freshman designated player Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) singled to score freshman pinch runner Taylor Puuri (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) to make the score 4-2. Junior second baseman Lohgan Bryant (Danville, Ill./Schlarman) later hit a two-RBI double to tie the game.

Wisconsin-Parkside took a 5-4 lead in the fourth inning, but McKendree scored twice in the sixth to regain the lead 6-5. Junior centerfielder Erica Johnson (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) gave the Bearcats the lead back with a two-out single that scored freshman leftfielder Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) and freshman rightfielder Dani Schoenbacher (Tamaroa, Ill./Pinckeyville). The Rangers earned what would be the winning runs on the two run homer in the top of the sixth to take game one.

Bryant and junior first baseman Katie Nauman (Amboy, Ill./Amboy) each had two hits in the game, with Bryant having two RBI and Nauman having a run scored. Freshman pitcher Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) was tabbed with the loss in relief, falling to 1-3 overall, but striking out four in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

It took some late game heroics for the Bearcats to earn the win in game two. McKendree trailed 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, but scored two runs with two outs to win 2-1.

Junior shortstop Kate Mays singled with one out in the inning, and advanced to second on a groundout by Doggendorf. Johnson followed with a two-out single that brought around Mays to tie the game 1-1. A single by junior first baseman Morgan Schulte (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) moved Johnson to second and Stoszkus ripped a single to the outfield to bring in Johnson for the game-winning run.

Johnson led all players with three hits, and RBI and a run scored, while Stoszkus added two hits and an RBI. Stoszkus also improved to 4-3 in the circle and had three strikeouts.