(KENOSHA, Wis., March 25)—The McKendree University softball team stretched its win streak to seven straight games by posting a doubleheader sweep Sunday afternoon at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Bearcats held off the host Rangers in the opener 4-2 before using a seventh-inning comeback to collect a 5-4 triumph in game two.
 
With two more wins on Sunday, McKendree improves to 22-7 overall and is now 8-2 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats will return home to host Quincy University on Friday. First pitch is set for noon at Bearcat Field.
 
Freshman Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) and sophomore outfielder Abbie Bailey (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew) each had three hits on the day, with Bailey collecting all three of her safeties in game one. Senior Abbi Liske (Ashley, Ill./Nashville) provided the biggest hit at UW-Parkside with her pinch-hit, three-run home run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to help McKendree erase a 4-2 deficit.
 
Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) and sophomore Hannah Murphy (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North) each picked up another victory in the circle. Gajewski tossed a complete-game three-hitter in the opener as she allowed just one earned run and struck out six batters to boost her record to 13-1 this season. Murphy scattered 11 hits in her six innings of work in game two with four strikeouts. Junior Maci Ingram (Woodlawn, Ill./Nashville Community) shut the door in the seventh inning of the nightcap to notch her fifth save of the year.
 
Wisconsin-Parkside (14-14, 5-5 GLVC) grabbed a 1-0 lead in game one before McKendree took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman infielder Haegen Boyer (Eddyville, IA/Eddyville) led off with a single before senior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) followed with a double to move Boyer to third base. Two batters later, Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) grounded out to second base, driving in Boyer with the tying run to bring the Bearcats even at 1-1.
 
Freshman outfielder Konnor Arrowood (Fulton, MO/South Callaway) stepped in next and ripped a run-scoring single to right-center field to plate Franke with the go-ahead run. Junior Sarah Radae capped the rally with an RBI single to give McKendree a 3-1 advantage. The Bearcats tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth when Boyer reached on an error and came around to score thanks to an RBI single off the bat of senior Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest).
 
After the host Rangers scratched out a run in the bottom of the fifth to pull within 4-2, Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) shut the door. She retired the final seven batters to help preserve the Bearcats' two-run lead. Gajewski posted her seventh complete game of the 2018 season.
 
UW-Parkside took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two before McKendree quickly knotted the score in the top of the second inning. Murphy belted her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to center field, to bring the Bearcats even with the Rangers. Wisconsin-Parkside answered with two runs in the bottom of the second to regain a 3-1 advantage.
 
In the fourth inning, McKendree clawed back within a run. Arrowood led off with a single. Junior Megan Radae (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) replaced Arrowood as a pinch-runner. The Bearcats eventually loaded the bases before pinch-hitter Paige Fleeman (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) drew a walk to force home Radae to trim the McKendree deficit to 3-2. The Rangers scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead into the top of the seventh inning.
 
Boyer led off the McKendree half of the seventh inning with a double and Franke drew a walk. A double play left the Bearcats down to their final out before Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) singled to left field to bring Liske to the plate as a pinch-hitter. Liske worked the count full before blasting her second home run over the center field fence, completing the Bearcats' comeback to give McKendree a 5-4 advantage. Ingram relieved Murphy in the bottom of the seventh and worked around a one-out single by the Rangers to close out the sweep for McKendree.