(LEBANON, Ill., April 2)- The McKendree University softball team swept its second-consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday with a pair of wins over University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

The Bearcats improve to 15-19 overall and 9-7 in the GLVC, and will host Lewis University on Sunday, April 3 for a doubleheader at 12 p.m.

McKendree scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in game one to break open a tie game and win 8-3. A double by Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) brought in Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) to score from first to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, before adding two runs on a double by Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) in the third inning.

The Rangers tied the game in the top of the fourth, but a five-run fifth for the Bearcats broke the game open. Another double by Gajewski scored Doggendorf and Branch, and Marla Schulte (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) hit a double of her own later in the inning that scored Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) from from third. Dani Schoenbacher (Tamaroa, Ill./Pinckeyville) followed with a two-run homer to put McKendree in front 8-3.

Magre improved to 9-6 with the win and struck out 14 in seven innings pitched. Gajewski led McKendree at the plate with two doubles and four RBI.

In game two, the Bearcats scored runs in the first four innings to cruise to a 7-1 win. A two-RBI single by Schulte brought in Stephens and Branch for a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Gajewski got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second inning to score Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville High School) to increase the lead to 3-0, and a RBI double by Schoenbacher in the third inning scored Danielle Sweeney (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh High School) for a 4-0 lead after three.

The Rangers cut their deficit to 4-1 in the fourth inning, but McKendree added three runs in the bottom of the frame. A double by Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth High School) scored Sydne Bryant (Danville, Ill./Schlarman Academy), and a single by Schoenbacher brought in Samantha Barrientos (Hollister, Calif./San Benito) to score. A single by Samantha Cameron (Dix, Ill./Centralia, Ill.) brought in Schoenbacher to increase the lead to 7-1 and the eventual win.

Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community High School) improved to 4-7 and struck out eight in the win, while Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School) had three hits, a walk, and a run scored.