(LEBANON, Ill., March 29)- The McKendree University softball team won both games of a doubleheader against University of Illinois Springfield.

The Bearcats improve to 13-19 overall and 7-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and will host University of Wisconsin Parkside on Saturday, April 2 for a doubleheader at 12 p.m.

McKendree put its bats to work in game one, spraying 10 hits in a 8-0 win in six innings. The game was scoreless until the Bearcats scored three runs in the third inning. Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) reached on a bunt single and later stole second, before advancing to third on a throwing error by the second baseman. Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) reached on a walk and would steal second on a double steal that scored Doggendorf, and Branch would score on a fielding error by the centerfielder. Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth High School) followed with a solo homer to take the 3-0 lead.

McKendree added four more runs in the fourth inning on five hits. A single by Branch scored Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School) from third, and Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) singled to score Doggendorf and Branch. She'd come in to score later in the inning on a double by Hatsings to extend the lead to 7-0.

The Bearcats scored the final run of the game in the sixth inning on a bases loaded RBI single by Samantha Cameron (Dix, Ill./Centralia, Ill.) that scored Branch from third.

Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) improved to 8-6 overall and had nine strikeouts in the win. Doggendorf, Hastings, and Dani Schoenbacher (Tamaroa, Ill./Pinckeyville) each had two hits in game one.

McKendree held a 6-0 lead after two innings in game two, and held off a late rally by the Prairie Stars to earn a 9-6 win and the sweep. A triple by Doggendorf scored Stephens, and Branch followed with a single to bring in Doggendorf for a 2-0 lead.

Branch hit a two-run homer in the second inning to extend the lead, and Gajewski followed with a solo homer to make the scored 5-0. A double by Schoenbacher scored Hastings from first and McKendree led 6-0 after two innings.

Illinois Springfield scored two runs in the top of the third, but a RBI single by Doggendorf in the bottom of the frame brought in Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) from second to push the score to 7-2.

The Prairie Stars scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the score to 7-4, but McKendree extended its lead to 9-4 on a double by Doggendorf that scored Stephens and Danielle Sweeney (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh High School).

Illinois Springfield scored two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the score to 9-6, but was unable to extend the game with additional runs.

Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community High School) improved to 3-7 with the win and struck out five, while Magre earned the save. Doggendorf had three hits to lead the Bearcats at the plate, and also had four RBI and two runs scored.