(RENSSELAER, Ind., Apr. 15) – McKendree softball (27-18, 13-9 GLVC) recorded its eighth shutout of the year with a game one win over Saint Joesph's College (13-28, 6-16 GLVC), 6-0. The Bearcats used 14 hits in game two en route to a 6-4 victory, securing another conference sweep.
At the plate, senior outfielder Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) recorded another standout day going 5-for-8. Doggendorf scored three times and recorded six stolen bases, four of which came in game two.
Game one: McKendree 6, Saint Joe's 0
Senior right-hander Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) (13-7) kept the Bearcats' host off the scoreboard for the second game in a row. Surrendering two walks, the veteran hurler recorded four strikeouts and allowed two hits in five innings of work.
Sophomore Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville ) recorded her second three-RBI game of the weekend going 2-for-4 with two runs.
McKendree tacked on a pair of runs in the third to get the offensive day started. Radae singled up the middle to score Doggendorf, who reached on a fielder's choice. Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth ) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Radae, extending the lead to 2-0.
A four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a Radae two RBI double and a RBI single by Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) helped the Bearcats to their largest lead of the afternoon.
Reliever Hannah Murphy (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North ), who started the game in left field, worked the final two innings for the Bearcats allowing one hit and one walk.
Game two: McKendree 6, Saint Joe's 4
McKendree saw five different players record a RBI in game two. Freshman infielder Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame ) went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two stolen bases.
In the circle, right-hander Kylee Silliman (Fremont, IA/Oskaloosa ) (11-5) picked up win number four in her last five starts, throwing 4.1 innings of work. Silliman, for the seventh start in a row, did not allow a walk despite giving up three runs on seven hits. Reliever Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community ) picked up her fifth save of the year in 2.2 innings of work. Ingram recorded a season-high seven strikeouts and allowed one run on six hits.
McKendree struck first once again using a sacrifice fly by Radae to score Doggendorf. The host Pumas responded right back with a triple to tie the game.
Highlighting a three-run fourth, Erica Schuelke (Germantown, Wis./West Bend) recorded her second double of the year to bring in a pair of runs, while Lowry singled scoring a pair of unearned runs. SJC nabbed one back in its half of the frame with a two-out RBI single by Zoe Anderson.
Extending the Bearcats' lead, Franke drove in Sydnee Bryant followed by Hanna Branch (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood) recording a RBI double. SJC responded once again at the plate with a two-out single and double to cut the Bearcat lead to 6-4.
Ingram, who entered the game in the fifth, worked out of a jam in the sixth and seventh. The Pumas stranded runners in both innings following one-out singles.
McKendree wraps up the long road trip next weekend, crossing the mighty Mississippi River to take on Missouri S&T Saturday, April 22 and Drury University on Sunday, April 23. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for a noon first pitch.
