Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (JOPLIN, Mo., Feb. 27)- The McKendree University softball team split its pair of games on the first day at the Missouri Southern State University tournament.

The Bearcats are now 5-9 overall and will play Northwest Missouri State University at 10 a.m., on Sunday, before playing Missouri Western State University at Noon.

Game One-
McKendree - 0
Northeastern State - 2

McKendree only gave up two runs in the first game of the day, but were unable to bring any runs across the plate in a 2-0 loss to Northeastern State University.

The Riverhawks led off the game with a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead, and the Bearcats had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, but were unable to score.

Neither team would score again until Northeastern State hit another home run in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 2-0. McKendree had runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't bring them in to lose game one.

Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community High School) fell to 2-3 with the loss and struck out eight, while Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) led the Bearcats offensively with two hits.

Game Two-
McKendree- 6
Missouri Southern - 1

McKendree got its offense rolling in game two, pounding out 10 hits on its way to a 6-1 win over Missouri Southern. The Lions struck first and took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the Bearcats scored twice in the second to take a 2-1 lead. A double by Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) scored Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth High School) to tie the game, 1-1, and Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) followed with a single to score Magre to take the lead.

McKendree extended its lead to 5-1 following a three-run homer by Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest), and the Bearcats scored their final run of the game in the sixth inning on a single by Megan Raede that scored Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School).

Magre improved to 3-2 overall and struck out nine in the win, while also having two hits with an RBI and a run scored. Hastings and Franke also both had two hits in the win.