(OWENSBORO, Ky., April 18)—The McKendree University softball team rode a strong offensive performance to a non-conference doubleheader sweep Wednesday afternoon at Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Bearcats pounded out 27 hits on collecting victories of 10-0 in game one and 12-3 in the nightcap.
 
Wednesday's sweep pushes the Bearcats' record to 32-13 on the season. McKendree has matched its win total from last season, and the 32 victories is the most for the program since a 35-19 ledger back in 2010. McKendree will jump back into Great Lakes Valley Conference play Saturday with a doubleheader at Maryville University. First pitch is set for noon.
 
Freshman infield Haegen Boyer (Eddyville, IA/Eddyville) had the most productive day in her brief career at McKendree. Boyer went a combined 6-for-7 at the plate with three hits in each contest. She belted three doubles along with a home run and drove in 10 runs in the doubleheader.
 
Freshman outfielder Konnor Arrowood (Fulton, MO/South Callaway) helped out with five hits and three RBI at Kentucky Wesleyan, while senior catcher Rebecca Franke (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) added three hits, three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Senior Brooke Gajewski (Kronenwetter, Wis./D.C. Everest) had three hits and scored four times on the day, and sophomore infielder Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame) recorded three hits and three RBI in game two for the Bearcats.
 
Sophomore right-hander Kylee Silliman (Fremont, IA/Oskaloosa) tossed a two-hit shutout in the opener, She allowed just one runner to advance into scoring position in the contest as registered her sixth victory and fourth complete game of the season along with her first shutout of 2018. Arrowood allowed just one hit over the first five innings of game two to improve to 3-0 in the circle.
 
McKendree jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning of game one. Boyer started her big day with a one-out double and scored thanks to an RBI triple by Arrowood. Silliman followed with a run-scoring single to right field for a 2-0 Bearcat advantage. Silliman eventually came around to score on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Franke.
 
The Bearcats then added four runs in the third to stretch its lead to 7-0. Gajewski led off with a single and senior Kyla Haukap (Dawson, Ill./Buffalo Tri-City) came on as a pinch-runner. Lowry then reached on a walk before she and Haukap executed a double-steal to put runners at second and third. Boyer then opened the scoring with an RBI single to plate Haukap before Arrowood followed with a two-run double to bring home both Lowry and Boyer. The Bearcats eventually loaded the bases before Franke worked a walk to cap the scoring in the frame.
 
Boyer added an RBI double in the fourth inning for an 8-0 advantage before McKendree closed out the game one scoring with two more runs in the fifth. The Bearcats loaded the bases before Boyer was hit by a pitch to force home a run. Arrowood then produced an RBI single for the 10^th and final run of the contest for McKendree.
 
cKendree wasted little time in game two in taking a lead, scoring three times in the first for a 3-0 advantage. Senior infielder Tylin Stephens (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and then stole third base. Stephens scored on a groundout by Lowry to put the Bearcats in front. Boyer then picked up where she left off in game one as she stepped in next and blasted a two-run homer to cap the opening rally.
 
The Bearcats' 3-0 lead stood until the fifth inning, when McKendree plated three more runs to double its cushion to 6-0. The first four batters of the frame reached safely as Franke singled, Gajewski walked, Lowry singled and Boyer walked to force home the first run of the inning. Senior Paige Fleeman (Salem, Ill./Christ Our Rock Lutheran) came up as a pinch-hitter and delivered the big hit of the inning, a two-run single to give the Bearcats a six-run advantage.
 
In the sixth inning, Boyer belted a two-run double to push the McKendree lead to 8-0. After Kentucky Wesleyan (19-22) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to get within 8-2, the Bearcats closed out their big offensive afternoon with four runs in the seventh. Lowry started things with a two-run double before Boyer capped her 10-RBI day with another two-run double.