(ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 10)—The McKendree University softball team began the Great Lakes Valley Conference portion of its 2018 schedule Saturday with a doubleheader split at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Bearcats rolled to a 10-2 victory in game one before the host Tritons used a walk-off home run to salvage the split in the nightcap, 7-5.
 
McKendree moves to 14-5 on the season. The Bearcats will step out of conference on Tuesday to host Southwest Baptist University in a twinbill set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
 
Senior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) and sophomore infielder Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame) each recorded three hits in the doubleheader against Missouri-St. Louis. Lowry had a solo home run in the nightcap, while senior Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) smashed a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to tie the contest. Freshman Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) belted a round-tripper in game one. Sophomore left-hander Hannah Murphy (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North) got the Bearcats off on the right foot by tossing her second straight complete game, a six-hitter in the opener.
 
McKendree wasted little time in taking a lead in game one by plating five runs in the second inning. Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) started the frame with her solo homer to left field. After Lowry walked and stole second base, freshman outfielder Konnor Arrowood (Fulton, MO/South Callaway) delivered an RBI single to score Lowry to provide a two-run cushion. Sophomore outfielder Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) added a two-run single while Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) capped the five-run outburst with an RBI groundout.
 
In the third inning, junior Sara Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) produced a leadoff double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lowry. Two batters later, Murphy singled up the middle to score Radae for a 6-0 advantage for the Bearcats. Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) added a run-scoring single in the top of the fourth inning to build a 7-0 cushion for McKendree.
 
UMSL (14-10, 1-1 GLVC) plated both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 7-2. McKendree responded in the top of the fifth on a two-run double by Franke to give the Bearcats a 9-2 lead. Freshman infielder Haegen Boyer (Eddyville, IA/Eddyville) closed out the game one scoring in the sixth inning with an RBI single.
 
Murphy scattered six hits in her six innings of work. She walked just one batter and struck out two in pushing her record to 2-0 on the season.
 
The host Tritons exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning of game two. McKendree did not get on the scoreboard until the fourth inning, when the Bearcats put together a two-out rally to get within 5-2. Lowry ripped a solo home run down the left field line for the first run of the inning. Arrowood followed with a single, and junior outfielder Megan Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) came on as a pinch-runner. Freshman outfielder Shelby Summer (Washington, IL/Washington) stepped in next and drilled a run-scoring double to right field to bring home Radae.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, McKendree mounted its comeback bid. Boyer led off with a double and Franke drew a one-out walk to bring Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) to the plate. She blasted a three-run home run to center field to tie the contest at 5-5. However, UMSL battled back in the bottom of the frame as Serena Olson hit a two-run, walk-off homer to help the Tritons gain the split against the Bearcats.
 
Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) was tagged with her first loss of the season in the circle for McKendree. Gajewski fanned six batters over 6 2/3 innings as she moved to 8-1 on the year.