(LEBANON,Ill., Apr. 8) – McKendree softball (21-16, 8-8 GLVC) recorded their eighth consecutive conference split Saturday afternoon against Lewis University. The Flyers (21-16, 9-7 GLVC) used a late rally to take game one, 3-0, before the Bearcats' bats came alive for a 12-1, five inning win in game two.

Junior Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) had a standout day at the plate going 3-for-6, including three doubles and four RBI.

Game one: Lewis 3, McKendree 0

Senior right-hander Holly Magre (Festus, Mo./St. Pius X) (11-7) went the distance in the pitcher's duel. Picking up her 11th complete game, Magre recorded eight strikeouts and two walks while allowing three runs on eight hits.

Both starters held their own through the first-five scoreless innings of play. In the top of the sixth Lewis broke the tie using a pair of doubles to take a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville ) collected one of the Bearcats' three hits, but was stranded at second following a Rachel Hastings (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth ) strikeout.

Lewis continued to heat up at the plate using three hits in the seventh to extend their lead to 3-0. McKendree attempted a late seventh inning rally with a single from Liz Klussman (Washington, Mo./Washington), but the Flyers worked out of the jam with a game-ending double play.

Game two: McKendree 12, Lewis 1 // 5 innings

Senior Jamie Doggendorf (Dittmer, Mo./Northwest) continued her dominance at the plate in the leadoff spot. Doggendorf went 3-for-3, recording a double, a homerun, three runs and three RBI. Sophomore Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville ) and freshman Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame ) went 2-for-2, scoring twice and recording an RBI respectively.

Freshman right-hander Kylee Silliman (Fremont, IA/Oskaloosa ) (8-6) allowed just one run on four hits in three innings of work. Freshman Hannah Murphy (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North ) recorded five strikeouts in her two innings of relief work.

McKendree scored early and often in the shortened ball game. Doggendorf led off the Bearcat first with a single and scored following a stolen base and throwing error by Lewis. Klussman extended the Bearcats' lead thanks to a double by Gajewski.

Highlighting a seven-run second inning, Lowry picked up her third double of the season driving in one. Gajewski recorded two of her four RBI with a double and Hastings tacked on her ninth double of the year.

The Flyers stole one back from McKendree in the top of the third, cutting the Bearcats lead to 9-1.

McKendree had no problem extending their lead in its half of the third. Highlighting the three-run inning was Doggendorf's second home run of the season.

Murphy in relief, struck out the side in the fourth and worked out of a jam in the fifth with a pair of strikeouts to secure the win.  

McKendree is back in action tomorrow at Wisconsin-Parkside which begins a 12-game road trip for the Bearcats. First pitch is set for noon