Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (LEBANON, Ill., March 2)- The McKendree University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Missouri Baptist University on Wednesday, falling 7-3 in game one, before posting a 10-5 win in game two.

The Bearcats improve to 6-12 overall and will open up Great Lakes Valley Conference play on March 12 at Quincy University for a doubleheader at 12 p.m.

Game One
McKendree - 3
Missouri Baptist - 7

The Spartans used a six-run second inning to take control of game one, and McKendree was unable to rally to fall 7-3 in game one.

The Bearcats got on the board in the second inning to cut their deficit to 6-2. A single by Erica Schuelke (Germantown, Wis./West Bend) scored Dani Schoenbacher (Tamaroa, Ill./Pinckeyville), and an error by the first baseman allowed Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) to score on the same play. A solo home run by Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) in the third inning cut the deficit to 6-3, but the Spartans added a run in the sixth inning and held on to take game one 7-3.

Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) fell to 3-4 and had three strikeouts in the loss, Schuelke had three hits with an RBI.

Game Two
McKendree - 10
Missouri Baptist - 5

McKendree scored eight runs in the second and third inning, and added two more runs in the fifth to win game two 10-5.

The Bearcats trailed 2-0 early, but scored three runs in the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth High School) scored on an error to cut the deficit in half, and McKendree took the lead on a double by Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School) that scored Megan Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville High School) and Schuelke. A single by Marla Schulte (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) in the third inning scored Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville High School) to extend the lead to 4-3, and a grand slam by Schuelke later in the inning put McKendree in front 8-3. A single by Gajewski in the fifth inning scored Stephens and Doggendorf to push the lead to 10-3. The Spartans added two runs in the seventh inning, but were unable to rally to give the Bearcats the 10-5 win.

Gajewski improved to 1-4 overall with the win. Schulte had three hits in game two, with a run scored and an RBI, while Schuelke had two hits, including the grand slam, with two runs scored and four RBI.