(LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 25)- The McKendree University softball team earned a doubleheader sweep at Bellarmine University, 8-5 and 6-2, on Friday.

The Bearcats improved to 11-17 overall and 5-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and will travel to Evansville, Ind., on Saturday for a conference doubleheader at University of Southern Indiana.

McKendree piled up its scoring in game one, scoring multiple runs in three innings to win 8-5. Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) laid down a bunt in the third inning with runners at the corners, and reached on a bad throw by the third baseman that allowed Erica Schuelke (Germantown, Wis./West Bend) to score from third. A wild pitch scored Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School) from third, and Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) followed with a single to score Doggendorf to take a 3-0 lead.

The Knights evened things up, 3-3, in the fourth inning, but McKendree answered with three more runs in the fifth inning to regain the lead 6-3. A double by Gajewski scored Doggendorf from second, and Gajewski came around to score on a single by Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) to take a 5-3 lead. A single by Marla Schulte (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) moved Branch to third, but an error by the rightfielder allowed Branch to cross the plate to build a three-run lead.

Bellarmine cut its deficit to 6-4 in the fifth inning, only for the Bearcats to score twice in the sixth. A ground out to the second baseman by Stephens scored Kyla Haukap (Dawson, Ill./Buffalo Tri-City) from third, and Doggendorf followed suit with a ground out to the second baseman as well that scored Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville High School) from third and increased the lead to 8-4. The Knights added one run in the seventh inning, but McKendree didn't allow a rally to take game one 8-5.

Gajewski and Branch each had two hits, including a double by both, to go along with a run scored. Gajewski had two RBI, while Branch had one. Taylor Barnouski (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) earned her first win of the season pitching in relief, while Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) earned the save and had one strikeout.

The Bearcats held a 3-2 lead in game two until they used a big three-run fifth inning to jump out to a 6-2 lead and the eventual win. A double by Gajewski in the top of the first scored Stephens and Doggendorf for an early 2-0 lead, but Bellarmine answered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 2-2. Schuelke reached on an error in the top of the second inning and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) to get into scoring position. She took advantage of a throwing error by the shortstop in the next at bat and came around to score to regain the lead 3-2.

Doggendorf led off the fifth with a single and was brought in to score on a double by Branch to make the score 4-2. A single by Gajewski scored Branch from second, and a fielding error by the shortstop later in the inning allowed Gajewski to score from third to extend the lead to 6-2. Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) held the Knights hitless over the final three innings to clinch the sweep.

Magre struck out six to improve to 7-5 overall, while Gajewski went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Stephens and Doggendorf both had two hits at the top of the order for McKendree.