(LIBERTY, MO., April 23)--The McKendree University softball team split a Great Lakes Valley Conference Saturday afternoon at William Jewell, dropping the first game 5-1 before rolling to a 9-0 shutout win in the nightcap.

Thanks to its game two victory, McKendree was able to lock down its first-ever berth in the GLVC Tournament, which begins April 29 and runs through May 1 in East Peoria, Ill. McKendree is 25-25 overall and 16-12 in conference play. The Bearcats will wrap up the regular season Sunday in a doubleheader at Rockhurst University. First pitch is set for noon in Kansas City, Mo.

Game One
William Jewell – 5
McKendree – 1
The Cardinals opened a 3-0 lead through five innings before McKendree plated its only run of the contest in the sixth inning. Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) singled with one out moved to second on a base hit by Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest). Megan Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville High School) stepped in next delivered an RBI single to bring home Branch and cut the Bearcats' deficit to 3-1. The Cardinals then added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win.

Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community High School) was nicked for the loss in the circle for McKendree. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Ingram is now 8-9 on the year. 

Game Two
McKendree – 9
William Jewell – 0
In six innings the Bearcats were able to come out strong in the second inning and would not let up on the Cardinals. Dani Schoenbacher (Tamaroa, Ill./Pinckeyville) stated the Bearcats off with a two-run homer in the second. Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) followed with a solo home run in the third to increase the lead to 3-0. Branch singled an advanced to second on an error setting her up for an unearned run as Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) blasted a two-run shot to push the McKendree lead to five runs after three innings of play.

Klussman, Branch and Gajewski each added run-scoring hits in the fourth, while Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs High School) also produced a steal of home plate to round out the Bearcats' scoring in the fourth and secure their GLVC Tournament slot. Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) picked up her 14^th win of the season. Magre limited the Cardinals to two hits with no errors and four strikeouts.