LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University softball (26-17, 9-7 GLVC) picked up a pair of conference victories in a sweep over Truman State, 7-6 and 10-2, on Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Field. The Bearcats now sit at 26 wins on the campaign while going back above .500 in league play while marking four-straight wins over the Bulldogs. McKendree continues its home weekend on Sunday with a doubleheader against the Upper Iowa Peacocks at Bearcat Field with a 12PM first pitch.
Game 1 vs. Truman State
The Bearcats looked to regain footing in the league as they host a pair of doubleheaders and broke through to do just that. After a quick hiccup in the opening inning, McKendree commanded the game with a six run bottom of the first to hold a five-run advantage at 6-1. The strong offensive inning was headlined by a three-run bomb from sophomore infielder
Lauren Harris, which scored senior infielder
Reagan Cheely and junior utility
Heaven Lawrence. Harris' homer was followed up by a solo shot from graduate infielder
Olivia Stansbury.
TSU grabbed one back in the third but in the sixth, Stansbury answered the call again with another solo home run to right center, making the lead 7-2 for the Bearcats. A comeback attempt by Truman State ensued in the seventh, with the Bulldogs putting up four to make it just a one-run contest. The Bearcats held off the comeback to secure the 7-6 win at home.
Senior pitcher
Ellie Quaethem tossed the full game with seven punch outs to earn her 15th win of the spring.
Game 2 vs. Truman State
McKendree looked for the series sweep against Truman in game two, going up early with a solo bomb by Harris for the 1-0 lead. Truman managed to go up 2-1 over the Bearcats in the top of the second but it was quickly canned with a solo shot by senior outfielder
Jordan Sapp, which leveled the game at 2-2.
McKendree utilized a massive fourth inning to build a six-run advantage which was started by senior outfielder
Taylor Witges who singled to drive in Stansbury. The fourth was capped off by two hits with a double by Cheely, which scored three runs in freshman outfielder
Molly Bartz, junior utility
Maci Meyer, and junior infielder
Jenna Roth, which then was followed by an RBI-single from Harris to push Cheely home.
The Bearcats then tacked on another run in the fifth with Bartz knocking a single to center which drove in Witges. Harris finished off the Bulldogs with a double down the right field line, allowing pinch runner
Jenna Getz to reach home.
The win went to junior pitcher
Paige McAllister, who tossed the complete game with four strikeouts, marking her 11th victory on the year.
UP NEXT
April 14 | 12PM / 2PM vs Upper Iowa | Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois |
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