(ROMEOVILLE, Ill., March 23)—The McKendree University softball team slugged its way to a doubleheader sweep at Lewis University on Friday. The Bearcats rolled to a 9-1 victory in game one before rallying to take the nightcap, 8-5.
 
McKendree pushed its win streak to five games thanks to Friday's sweep in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats are now 20-7 overall and improve to 6-2 in conference action. McKendree will have a day off before heading to Kenosha, Wis., for a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. First pitch is set for noon.
 
Senior Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) was the hitting star on Friday for McKendree with five hits, including two home runs in game two. Gajewski drove in seven runs in the two games against the Flyers. Freshman infielder Haegen Boyer (Eddyville, IA/Eddyville) contributed six hits on the day – three in each contest – while belting a solo home run in the opener. Senior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) added three hits and four RBI in the sweep. Boyer and Franke each scored five runs as well. Senior infielder Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) had four hits on the day for the Bearcats.
 
As a team, McKendree rapped out 24 hits against Lewis, including nine for extra bases. During its current five-game win streak, the Bearcats are averaging just over eight runs per contest.
 
In game one, Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) staked McKendree to a 1-0 lead when she led off the top of the second inning with a home run. It was Gajewski's second round-tripper of the season. The Bearcats then added to their lead with a two-out rally in the third inning. Boyer punched a single up the middle with two outs, she then came around to score thanks to a trio of wild pitches to extend the advantage to 2-0. Franke then drew a walk and reached second on another wild pitch. Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) stepped up next and plated Franke with an RBI single for a 3-0 McKendree lead.
 
Lewis (14-12, 3-5 GLVC) broke up Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest)'s shutout bid with a run in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 3-1. McKendree responded with four runs in the top of the fifth to race to a 7-1 lead. Stephens dropped down a bunt single to lead off the frame. Boyer followed with a single, and Stephens and Boyer then executed a double steal to put two runners in scoring position. Franke then brought home Stephens on a fielder's choice to give the Bearcats a three-run lead once again.
 
Boyer came around to score on Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest)'s second RBI single of the game. Freshman outfielder Konnor Arrowood (Fulton, MO/South Callaway) then delivered the big hit of the frame as her two-run single down the left field line pushed McKendree out to a six-run advantage.
 
The Bearcats then closed out game one with a two-out, two-run rally in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman infielder Haegen Boyer (Eddyville, IA/Eddyville) belted her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to center field. Later in the inning, Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) delivered her third RBI single of the contest which brought home Franke, who reached on a double after Boyer's home run.
 
Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) tossed a complete-game five-hitter to notch her 12^th victory of the year for McKendree. She allowed one earned run, walked just one batter and struck out for to improve to 12-1 on the season.
 
In the nightcap, Lewis struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first to grab a 2-0 lead. McKendree countered in its next at-bat in the top of the second when Arrowood ripped a one-out double and came around to score thanks to an RBI double off the bat of sophomore outfielder Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) to bring the Bearcats within 2-1. The Flyers then tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second to push its advantage to 5-1.
 
McKendree wasted little time in mounting a comeback by scoring four times in the top of the third to even the contest at 5-5. Stephens started the uprising with a leadoff double. Boyer followed with a single to move Stephens to third base. Up next was Franke, who laced an RBI single down the left-field line to score Stephens and bring the Bearcats within 5-2.
 
Two pitches later, Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) blasted a three-run homer over the center field fence to help McKendree tie the game at 5-5. It was Gajewski's sixth home run of the season, adding to her team lead.
 
The Bearcats took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, with the top of the order figuring in all three runs. Boyer reached on a one-out infield single, and Franke followed with a two-run home run to left-center field, giving McKendree a 7-5 advantage. On the next pitch, Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) blasted her second home run of the contest, a solo shot down the left field line, to push the lead to three.
 
Sophomore Hannah Murphy (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North) earned the game two win in relief for McKendree, moving to 3-1 on the season. In 4 1/3 innings of work, Murphy allowed just three hits and fanned two batters. Junior Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community) recorded the final three outs to collect her fourth save of 2018.