The McKendree University softball team won two dramatic games against the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday at Bearcat Field. The Bearcats won both games 5-4 while game two went into extra innings. The pair of wins extends the Bearcats winning streak to nine games.
 
Game One
The Bearcats got off to a 3-0 start in the first inning courtesy of an RBI off a Paige Hayden fielder's choice, a Shelby Summer RBI single, and an Emily King RBI single.
 
Southern Indiana would rally back and produce a four-run inning, taking a 4-3 lead.
 
It was pinch hitter Sidney Larson who was the hero hitting a two-run single with the bases loaded to secure the win.
 
Ellie Quathem started the game for McKendree. She pitched in six innings, gave up four runs on eight hits, and struck out seven batters. Her record improves to 5-3 on the season.
 
Game Two
After Southern Indiana took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, the Bearcats would put up three runs between the second and third innings courtesy of RBI singles from Kelsey Sachs and Bailey Merritt and a Miranda Gajewski home run to take the lead.
 
Southern Indiana would not go down without a fight, they scored three runs between the sixth and seventh innings to take another 4-3 lead.
 
Gajewski would come up with a clutch RBI single to tie the game at four in the Bearcats final at bats in the seventh inning.
 
Game two's hero would be Emily King, who came into pinch hit and hit the game winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning. 
 
Gajewski started the game. She pitched in 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits, and struck out five batters. Quaethem would come in for the final 1 2/3 innings and earned her sixth win of the season.
 
The wins improve the Bearcats record to 12-6 on the season and 11-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. 
 
Coaches Quote
"I am very proud of the fight our team had today. We came out aggressive early in the first game which I like to see. And to win both games on clutch pinch hits from Sidney And Emily was very exciting. Very, very proud of what they accomplished today," head coach Ashley Fleming said.
 
Up Next
The Bearcats will be back in action on Tuesday, April 6 for a nonconference game against Missouri Western State at Bearcat Field. Game one starts at 12 p.m. and game two starts at 2 p.m.