SMYRNA, Tenn. - McKendree University softball opened its season in Smyrna, Tenn. at the Music City Invitational this past weekend. The Bearcats posted a 4-2 record, including two no-hitters for the three-day event.

MCKENDREE 18, CEDARVILLE 0
The Bearcats kicked off the season with a bang with a dominating 18-0 win over Cedarville. Junior pitcher Ellie Quaethem pitched a no-hitter in the win, recording 10 strike-outs against 16 hitters in five innings.

McKendree collected 19 total hits, led by freshman shortstop Lauren Harris going 4-4 at the plate with three RBI and scoring three runs. In addition to Harris, senior first baseman and 2022 All-American Olivia Stansbury added three RBI and three runs in the win.

MCKENDREE 5, TIFFIN 8
McKendree and Tiffin were locked 1-1 after one inning, though the Dragons would score five runs to the Bearcats' one in the second and third innings to take the lead. Although the Bearcats would rally with two runs in the seventh inning, the Dragons held out a three-run lead to give McKendree its first loss of the season.

Sophomore left fielder Heaven Lawrence led the Bearcats with a 2-3 performance at the plate. Lawrence and three more Bearcats accounted for one RBI each. Junior pitcher Sophia Koesterer delivered three strike-outs in three innings before sophomore pitcher Sydney Bires took the last four innings, posting five strike-outs against the Dragons.

MCKENDREE 3, HARDING 9
Harding came into Saturday's game with a 9-2 record to McKendree's 1-1 record. The Bison scored nine runs on 14 hits as the Bearcats struggled to get their bats going, putting up only three runs on six hits.

Harris was 2-3 for the game and scored one run while Stansbury drove in two runs and scored one run of her own. Bires opened the game to pitch for 3.1 innings and Koesterer finished out the contest for 3.2 innings.

MCKENDREE 9, ASHLAND 5
The Bearcats bounced back with a win against Ashland, defeating the Eagles with a score of 9-5. McKendree jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and held Ashland to three scoreless innings while extended its lead to 7-0. The Eagles put up four runs in the fourth inning, but could not catch the Bearcats as McKendree drove in two more runs in the fifth inning.

Four Bearcats had two or more hits in the victory including junior third basemen Reagan Cheely with three hits and three RBI, freshman catcher Scout Duplaga with two hits and two RBI, and freshman second basemen Macy Brown along with junior right fielder Taylor Witges firing two hits a piece.

Quaethem was the winning pitcher for the Bearcats, facing 30 batters and recording nine strike-outs and allowing just five hits.

MCKENDREE 4, FERRIS STATE 0
Against the Bulldogs, the Bearcats recorded their second shut-out of the year behind Quaethem's 12 strikeouts and two hits allowed in seven innings.

Five different Bearcats posted hits in the victory including Harris, Lawrence, Stansbury, junior center fielder Jordan Sapp and senior pinch hitter Skyler Davis. Stansbury batted in two runs  while Davis accounted for the other Bearcat RBI.

MCKENDREE 10, KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 0
McKendree saw its second no-hitter of the season in its final game of the weekend as junior pitcher Sophia Koesterer faced 17 batters and delivered three strike-outs in five innings.

Along with Koesterer's pitching, the Bearcats were hot at the plate with 12 total hits. Freshman catcher Mollie Vetter drove in three of the Bearcats' 10 runs while Brown and junior right fielder Taylor Witges tallied two RBI each.

UP NEXT
McKendree Softball is back in action this coming weekend at the Independence Bank Blue Ridge Battle starting with a contest against Northwood University on Feb. 24 at Deaconess Sports Park in Evansville, Ind.