(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 16) —The McKendree University softball team will head south again this weekend as they travel to Hendersonville, Tenn. to take part in the Music City Invitational.

McKendree (3-2) will take on Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a 2:00 p.m. contest against Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Bearcats will continue action on Sunday, February 19 at 10:00 a.m. against Lindenwood University and then take on Ohio Dominican University at 12:00 p.m.

For tournament information and location, fans can visit the tournament home page here.

BEARCATS ALL-TIME RECORD VS OPPONETS:
vs. Saginaw Valley State University: first meeting between both teams.
vs. Kentucky Wesleyan College: 4-2
vs. Lindenwood University: 4-9
vs. Ohio Dominican University: first meeting between both teams.
           
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS: Saginaw Valley State University was picked to finish fourth out of 12 teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Going 32-17 overall in 2016, SVSU enters their first weekend of play for the 2017 season. The Cardinals return starting pitchers Samantha Willman who last season posted a starter-best 1.83 ERA while posting an 8-4 record. 

SVSU also returns their top three hitters in the lineup. Madison Burgess returns after leading the team in batting average (.380) and doubles (9). Danielle Hamilton poses a threat on the bases after capturing a team-high 29 stolen bases last season with an on-base percentage of .391. Meredith Rousse returns to the Cardinal lineup after recording 36 RBI last season.

SVSU will take on Truman State and University of Indianapolis Friday evening before going up against the Bearcats Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Kentucky Wesleyan College enters the weekend at 1-3 overall after facing University of Findlay and Bellarmine University this past weekend. Picked to finish second in the eight-team Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), the Panthers posted their first win of the season last weekend against Findlay.

KWC returns G-MAC Freshman of the Year Meredith Daunhauer, who hit a team best .416 batting average on 67 hits and stole 32 bases on 35 attempts. The Panthers also return starting pitcher Maci Brown who posted a 2.96 ERA in 22 appearances last season while going 11-8.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: Lindenwood University enters the season under first-year head coach Liz Kelly, who comes from Maryville University where she led the Saints to a Midwest Regional title game. The Music City Invitational will serve as the Lions first tournament and games of the season. The Lions return All-MIAA selection Lexi Theis who hit .328 and recorded a team-high 27 RBI last season.

Lindenwood will face off against University of Montevallo and Bellarmine University Friday night prior to Saturday's matchup against the Bearcats.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Ohio Dominican University enters the season picked to finish ninth in the GLIAC after going 25-27 overall last season. Taylor Kline, third-team NCFA All-American who is also on the NFCA/Schutt Sports Division II National Player of the Year watch list, returns for the Panthers after last season leading ODU in batting average (.446), on-base percentage (.489), slugging percentage (.549), hits (78), and stolen bases (41).

The Panthers also return starting pitcher Abby Lamping who posted a 2.31 ERA, starting in 23 games and recording a 12-9 record.

Ohio Dominican will take on Indianapolis, Montevallo, Truman State, and Kentucky Wesleyan prior to playing the Bearcats.