(ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 19) – The McKendree softball team upset No. 17 University of Missouri-St. Louis 2-1 in game one of Sunday's GLVC doubleheader, before dropping the nightcap 4-1.
With the Sunday split, McKendree moves to 15-10 overall and 2-2 in GLVC play.
Game One: McKendree 2, UMSL 1
McKendree had its opportunities early in the third with a runner in scoring position, but eventually stranded two runners. Rebounding in the fourth, senior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) recorded a two-out double to set up sophomore Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville ) to get the Bearcats on the board. Radae took full advantage of that opportunity. With the wind blowing straight out to center, Radae made contact with a ball that carried its way over the center field fence to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead.
The No. 17 ranked Tritons showed their resilience in the fifth using a Bearcat error, a hit batter, and a walk to load the bases. Freshman right-hander Kylee Silliman (Fremont, IA/Oskaloosa ) showed no panic striking out clean-up hitter Sara Kern to retire the side.
UMSL showed one last rally in the seventh, denying the Bearcats of a shutout, with a double to left center scoring one. Silliman held strong retiring the final two batters to secure the upset victory.
Silliman (6-2) threw her third shutout of the season, giving up five hits, one run, and striking out a new season-high seven batters.
Game Two: UMSL 4, McKendree 1
The Tritons' offense came alive in the nightcap. Striking early, sophomore Serena Olson knocked her 11th homerun of the season to put UMSL up early.
In the third, Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew ) would start out her 3-for-3 game with a triple down the left field line. Following the triple, Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) blasted a sharp ground ball to second, while Bailey broke for the plate UMSL aware of the situation fired one to home denying Bailey of scoring.
Senior right-hander Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) did not seem fazed by the Triton offense, as she struck out eight of the next 12 batters she faced.
In the fourth, UMSL used a pair of doubles to extend their lead to 2-0.
McKendree stranded a runner on base in the fifth and sixth inning, while UMSL plated a run in both to extend their lead out to 4-0.
The Bearcats showed one last fight in the seventh, plating a run on a Doggendorf ground ball to the shortstop that scored Bailey. That was all she wrote for the Bearcats who stranded eight runners in the game.
Magre (8-5) suffered the loss throwing five innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits, no walks, and striking out nine. Sophomore reliever Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community ), in just one inning of work, allowed one run while striking out two.
McKendree is back in action Saturday as they open up an eight-game home stand against Truman State in GLVC play. First pitch is set for noon.
