(LEBANON, Ill., March 17)—The McKendree University softball team registered a doubleheader split Saturday at home against the University of Indianapolis. After dropping a close 3-1 decision in the opener, the Bearcats used a pair of home runs in a five-run fifth inning to pull away for an 8-1 triumph over the Greyhounds in game two. Indianapolis entered Saturday's twinbill ranked No. 16 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II poll.
 
The split gives McKendree an overall record of 16-7. The Bearcats are now 2-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action. McKendree will wrap up a six-game home stand on Sunday when Bellarmine University visits Bearcat Field for a conference doubleheader. First pitch is at noon.
 
Freshman Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) rapped out five hits against Indianapolis, including a 3-for-3 performance in game one. She also drove in a pair of runs on the day. In the circle, Gajewski improved to 10-1 on the season by allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts over five innings in the nightcap.
 
Senior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) added three hits on the day, while sophomore Hannah Murphy (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North) and freshman Haegen Boyer (Eddyville, IA/Eddyville) each blasted home runs in the decisive fifth inning of game two.
 
In the nightcap, McKendree took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Boyer led off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Franke. Two batters later, Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) laced a single to right field that scored Boyer with the first run of the contest. Indianapolis tied the contest with a run in the top of the fourth before the Bearcats answered with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Alli Liske (Ashley, IL/Nashville) came off the bench to drop an RBI single down the left-field line to push the Bearcats back in front. McKendree then loaded the bases before Franke drew a walk to force home another run to give the Bearcats a 3-1 advantage.
 
Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) led off the bottom of the fifth with a double past the Greyhounds' third baseman. After a sacrifice bunt moved Gajewski to third, Murphy stepped to the plate and belted a two-run home run over the center field fence to extend the Bearcats' lead to 5-1.
 
After a pitching change for UIndy, sophomore outfielder Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) and senior infielder Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) produced singles to bring Boyer up with two outs. She belted the first pitch of her at-bat over the center field fence to cap the McKendree outburst for a seven-run lead.
 
Junior Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community) relieved Gajewski to start the sixth inning. Ingram shut down the Greyhounds over the final two innings, striking out five batters in the process. The loss snapped a 12-game win streak for UIndy as well.
 
Indianapolis (19-5, 3-1 GLVC) broke up a scoreless tie in game one with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to grab a 3-0 lead. McKendree cut into the Greyhounds' lead in the bottom of the sixth. Franke and senior Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) started the inning with back-to-back singles. Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) followed with an RBI double down the right field line to bring home Franke and cut the deficit to 3-1.
 
The Bearcats put together one final comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning. McKendree loaded the bases, but UIndy's Haylie Foster came on in relief to record the final out to preserve the win for the Greyhounds.