(HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 18) - The McKendree University softball team pushed their record to 4-3 on the year after an 8-5 loss to Saginaw Valley State University, followed by a 3-2 win over Kentucky Wesleyan College. 

The Bearcats will be back in action Sunday, February 19 as they take on Lindenwood University at 10:00 a.m., followed by a contest against Ohio Dominican at 12 p.m.

Game 1 - Saginaw Valley State 8 McKendree 5

McKendree would strike first in the bottom of the second. Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew ) would walk followed by Tylin Stevens reaching on an error to spark the Bearcat offense. A sacrifice bunt by Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame ) allowed runners to move into scoring position for Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) who would single, driving in Bailey and Stevens. 

The Bearcats' 2-0 lead would not last long as Saginaw Valley State (1-2) recorded back-to-back home runs giving the Cardinals a 4-2 lead. 

McKendree would respond back in the bottom of the third as pinch-hitter Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) drove in Sydney Bryant, cutting the Bearcat deficit down to one.

The Cardinals' offense would not go away, plating two runs on three hits in the top-half of the fourth.

McKendree would respond right back sending six hitters to the plate, scoring two runs on no hits in the bottom of the fourth to trail 6-5. 

Saginaw Valley State would increase their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Taking advantage of three Bearcat errors, the Cardinals would plate two runs on just one hit capturing an 8-5 victory.

In the circle, Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) (2-2) would suffer the loss going four innings of work and allowing six runs with three strikeouts. Reliever Hanna Murphy would toss three innings of work giving up two runs, none which were earned, and record four strikeouts. 

Game 2 - McKendree 3  Kentucky Wesleyan 2

Surrendering a run early to Kentucky Wesleyan (1-4), McKendree's offense responded in the top of the second as Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) would send a two-run shot over the fence to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. 

McKendree would extend th lead once again thanks to Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington) who nabbed her third RBI of the day scoring Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth ). 

Starting pitcher Kylee Silliman (Fremont, IA/Oskaloosa ) (2-1) would go the distance on the mound retiring 13 in a row after the first inning, surrendering no walks, and recording five strikeouts. Silliman would depart in the seventh after allowing a lead-off double. Reliever Maci Ingram would allow a RBI single cutting the Bearcat lead down to 3-2. Ingram would secure the save by recording three straight strikeouts and pushing the Bearcats a game over five-hundred.