EVANSVILLE, Ind. | Deaconess Sports Park - McKendree University softball (5-6) split all three days of the Independence Bank Blue Bridge Battle over the weekend, gaining victories over Trevecca Nazarene, 6-1, against Lincoln (MO), 8-2, and capped-off with Thomas More, 4-1. The Bearcats return to their home region in their next weekend of action, hosting the Bearcat Classic at O'Fallon Family Sports Park in O'Fallon, Illinois on March 1-3.
Day 1, Game 1 vs. Ashland
The Bearcats took an early 2-0 lead over the Eagles, tallying a run in the first and third inning off of single base knocks by senior infielder
Olivia Stansbury and senior outfielder
Jordan Sapp. Ashland bounced back in the third, taking a 3-2 advantage over the Bearcats.
In the fifth, Standbury added another single, driving in another run and freshman outfielder
Molly Bartz came through with a double, which drove in Stansbury. Ashland fired back in the seventh, taking the lead and the game in the inning.
Junior hurler
Paige McAllister struck out four in the game, facing 29 batters.
Day 1, Game 2 vs. Trevecca Nazarene
McKendree closed out day one with a big win, going up 3-1 at the end of the third inning. Senior infielder
Reagan Cheely started things off with a single, batting in a run to own the lead in the opening inning. Stansbury then blasted a homer out to right field, bring in sophomore infielder
Lauren Harris.
In the fifth and sixth innings, Standsbury added three more RBIs as Harris scored once and junior utility
Heaven Lawrence crossed home twice.
Senior pitcher
Ellie Quaethem notched the win with eight strikeouts and a complete game.
Day 2, Game 1 vs. Lincoln
McKendree began its second day quickly with a 3-0 lead in the first inning, ignited by Standsbury and Cheely, who each batted run-scoring singles through the defense. In the fourth, the Bearcats tacked on another run to make it 4-0 as Harris batted a single through the left side, pushing Bartz home.
The Bearcats then added a least one run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, shifting the advantage further to McKendree. McKendree notched the 8-2 victory with McAllister grabbing the win with six innings pitched and a pair of strikeouts.
Day 2, Game 2 vs. Northwood
McKendree's battle against Northwood started off strong for the Bearcats as Harris bombarded a ball beyond the left field fence for a 1-0 advantage in the first. The Bearcats went up 2-0 over the Timberwolves in the fourth inning as Bartz dropped a single through the middle before junior infielder
Sarah Roth added another run-scoring single in the sixth, making it a 3-0 affair.
Northwood battled back in the soxth, scored seven runs to take the game, 7-3. Quaethem tossed six inning with seven strikeouts in the contest.
Day 3, Game 1 vs. Alabama-Huntsville
The Bearcats struggled in the first game of the third day at the Blue Bridge Battle, tallying just three runs against Alabama-Huntsville. Harris, Stansbury, and graduate catcher
Payton Baxter all knocked hits in the contest.
McAllister threw 4.2 innings, striking out three while facing 21 batters.
Day 3, Game 2 vs. Thomas More
McKendree grabbed a weekend-ending victory over in Evansville, going up 4-0 by the third inning. Cheely led things off with a run-scoring double before junior infielder
Jenna Roth added a sac fly run. Sophomore catcher
Mollie Vetter then pushed through a third run in the opening inning via single. Vetter then again knocked a single with the fourth and final Bearcat run of the outing.
McKendree got the win, 4-1, with Quaethem tossing six innings with four strikeouts for the win.
NEXT UP | Bearcat Classic - O'Fallon, Illinois / O'Fallon Family Sports Park
March 1 | 1PM vs. Missouri Western
March 1 | 3:30PM vs. Kentucky Wesleyan
March 2 | 12PM vs.Davenport
March 2 | 2:30PM vs. Purdue Northwest
March 3 | 11AM vs. Davenport
March 3 | 1:30PM vs. Washburn
