The McKendree University softball team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a pair of wins against Lewis University on Friday.
 
The Bearcats would win game one 2-1 and the second game 3-0. The game was played in Romeoville, Ill. but the Bearcats were credited as the home team.

Game one 
The first game of the doubleheader would see the Bearcats get off to a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Paige Hayden (Independence, MO/Fort Osage) homerun in the first inning and a Miranda Gajewski (Kronenwetter, WI/D.C. Everest) RBI double which scored Jenny Homann (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) in the third inning. 
 
The Flyers would get a late homerun in the sixth inning, but it would not be enough to tie the game.
 
The win would go to Ellie Quaethem (Washington, MO/Washington), who pitched 5 1/3 innings, struck out seven batters and allowed one earned run. It would be the freshman's first win of the season and the first win of her Bearcat career.
 
Game two 
Game two would see the Bearcats jump out to another early lead with a Homann single which scored Caitlyn Lowry (St. Louis, MO/Notre Dame), and a Homann sacrifice fly which scored Hayden.
 
The Bearcats would add an insurance run in the sixth inning when Taylor Allen (Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada/Neepawa Area Collegiate) reached on an error which would score Shelby Summer (Washington, IL/Washington).
 
Gajewski would be credited with the win. She pitched all seven innings, gave up five hits, one runs, walked two batters and struck out five batters. She is now 2-1 on the season.
 
With today's wins, the Bearcats record improves to 3-3 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
 
Coaches Quote 
"I am very happy with how we came out and scored early in both games. We were aggressive at the plate, and played solid defensively," head coach Ashley Fleming said. "Gajewski and Quaethem both had a presence on the mound today, attacking the zone and working ahead. Our team was able to build on that, and it was good to see both of them in control and find their comfort zone."
 
Next
The Bearcats will travel to Indianapolis, Ind. to take on the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds on Saturday, March 13 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.