ROSEMONT, Ill. – The McKendree University softball team used a seven run first inning here Monday afternoon to post a 13-3 run-ruled win over Lewis University in the first game of its Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at The Dome at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

With the win, the Bearcats improve to 7-10 overall and 1-2 in the GLVC, while Lewis falls to 9-10 overall and 0-3 in the league.

In the opener against the Flyers, the Bearcats outhit the Flyers, 8-6 and scored multiple runs in both the first and fourth innings in en route to earning its first run-ruled win in GLVC play.

The Bearcats got all the scoring they would need in the top of the first inning as they sent 11 hitters to the plate and scored seven times on three hits, with freshman shortstop Heaven Lawrence (Marion, Ill./Marion) driving in three of those seven runs thanks to a lead-off home run and a two-run ground-rule double later in the inning. Two of the other Bearcat runs came in thanks to back-to-back bases loaded walks issued to junior third baseman Kelsey Sachs (Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan) and freshman centerfielder Austen Vickery (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) and also added a run on a wild pitch from Lewis relief pitcher Sara Serena.

McKendree's big first inning gave sophomore pitcher Ellie Quaethem (Washington, Mo./Washington) all the run support she would need as she would retire the first six hitters she faced in order and would toss all five innings and allowed six hits and three runs, with four of those hits and all three of those runs coming in the bottom of the fifth. Quaethem (5-4) would strike out four and walk none in the win.

Lawrence made it 8-0 in the top of the third thanks to an inside-the-park home run to left center. Lawrence finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and 4 RBI.

The Bearcats would extend its lead to 13-0 in the top of the fourth inning as Vickery drove home a run a bases loaded single to right center and then freshman Sydney Bires (Carlinville, Ill./Gillespie) followed with a grand slam over the fence in left field.

Lewis, who has now lost six straight games on the season with Monday's setback, would prevent a shutout in the bottom of the fifth inning as they scored three runs on four hits to cap the scoring. In the inning, Serena led off with a solo home run over the fence in left center, while Delaney Garden drove in a run an ground out and Gabi Nilles brought home a run on her two-out single up the middle.

Bires finished with 5 RBI in the game, while junior leftfielder Olivia Stansbury (Lafayette, Ind./Purdue Fort Wayne) added two hits to extend her hitting streak to six consecutive games.

Nilles and Maggie Joutras each had two hits to pace the Flyers.

Kaelyn Leverson (0-4) took the loss in the circle as she lasted just a third-of-an-inning and allowed two hits and five runs, while walking three and fanning none. Serena pitched the final 4.2 innings and allowed six hits and eight runs, while walking six and striking out three.

Junior second baseman Skyler Davis (Muncie, Ind./UT-Martin) was walked three times in the game as a total of seven Bearcats drew at least one walk in the game.

\The two teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader with a second game that was scheduled to begin 30 minutes after completion of the first game.