(LEBANON, Ill., April 1)- The McKendree University softball team held on to defeat Missouri Baptist University, 5-3, in game one of a scheduled doubleheader on Tuesday, but game two went unfinished after being called in the second inning due to rain.

The Bearcats improved to 12-16 overall and will host Maryville University for a conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 2 at 3 p.m.

McKendree took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning and added three runs in the fifth inning, before holding off a late rally by the Spartans to earn a 5-3 win.

A single by junior centerfielder Erica Johnson (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) scored junior shortstop Kate Mayes (Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville) in the first inning to get the Bearcats on the scoreboard. Junior designated player Lindsay Schmitz (Streator, Ill./Streator Township)  put down a sac bunt that scored freshman Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) from third to put McKendree in front 2-0.

The Bearcats struck again in the fifth inning when a single by Mayes scored freshman catcher Hayli Scott (Ferdinand, Ind./Heritage Hills) to extend the lead to 3-0. Doggendorf followed witha single that scored freshman rightfielder Dani Schoenbacher (Tamaroa, Ill./Pinckeyville) and Mayes to push the score to 5-0. Missouri Baptist scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but McKendree held on for the win.

Junior pitcher Susan Goetze (Green Valley, Ill./Midwest Central) improved to 3-4 overall and had a career-high nine strikeouts in the win. Mayes and Doggendorf set the table for the Bearcats from the top two spots in the order with both having two hits. Mayes had an RBI and two runs scored, while DOggendorf had two RBI and one run scored.

Game two reach the bottom of the second inning before being called due to rain showers moving through the area.