(LEBANON, Ill., March 24) – McKendree University's softball team is set to begin its home portion of conference play this weekend at Bearcat Field. The Bearcats will take on Truman State University Friday (March 24) afternoon, prior to hosting Quincy University. Both games are scheduled doubleheaders with first pitch set for noon.
GAMEDAY LINKS:
Live Video - www.glvcsn.com/mckendree
Live Stats – www.sidearmstats.com/mckendree/softball
Twitter updates – www.twitter.com/McKBearcats
MCKENDREE QUICK HITS:
-McKendree is 15-10 overall, 2-2 in GLVC play.
-Last weekend the Bearcats went 2-2, which included an upset over No. 17 University of Missouri-St. Louis in game one of Sunday's (March 19) doubleheader.
-With Sunday's upset win over No. 17 UMSL, McKendree is now 2-18 against Top 25 NFCA Poll Teams since joining the GLVC in 2013. Both wins came against UMSL.
-The Bearcats have currently won four of their last six games.
-McKendree is 2nd in the conference in walks with 81.
-McKendree's pitching staff leads the conference in strikeouts recorded at 157.
-With 1.72 stolen bases per game, McKendree ranks 1st in the GLVC and 43rd nationally.
-As a team, McKendree's 43 stolen bases are 2nd in the conference behind Truman State who has 55.
-Senior Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) has swiped a GLVC second-best 17 bases. Her 0.68 Stolen Bases per game is also ranks her 30th in Division II.
-Freshman Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew ) had a season-high three hits in game two against UMSL and collected her first triple as a Bearcat. Bailey is now one of three Bearcats with a triple this season.
-Senior Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) is 1st in the GLVC and 23rd in the nation for Strikeouts per Seven Innings at 8.2. Magre is also 2nd in the conference and 31st in the nation with 84 recorded strikeouts.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:
Truman State (19-11, 2-2 GLVC) enters the weekend on a two-game losing streak. In the opening weekend of conference play, the Bulldogs swept past Wisconsin-Parkside before dropping a pair to Lewis. Offensively, TSU is 16th in nation and second in the conference with a .335 batting average. The offense is outscoring their opponents 169-107, with 73 of those runs coming in the first-two innings. Sophomore Christa Reisinger boasts a .545 batting average that ranks fourth in the nation and includes a current 17-game hitting streak.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS:
Quincy University (8-10, 2-2 GLVC) opened up their conference play with splits against Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside. The Hawks split with Missouri Baptist in a non-conference match up Wednesday (March 22). Quincy comes in hitting .293 as a team while being outscored by their opponents 115-90. The Hawks currently have four players in the lineup hitting over .300 behind a pitching staff that posts a 5.58 ERA. The Hawks will take on Illinois-Springfield Friday (March 24) prior to their meeting with the Bearcats.
