SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - McKendree University softball (30-19, 13-9 GLVC) capped its final road weekend of the regular season with a split at Illinois-Springfield, shutting out the Prairie Stars in game one, 7-0, but falling after a late-game comeback, 4-3, in the latter match of the day. The Bearcats were led in the first game by senior pitcher
Ellie Quaethem, who tossed her 10th shutout of the campaign while the battery bashed 10 hits for the seven-run victory. McKendree finishes up its regular season on April 27 and 28 at home against Southwest Baptist and Drury. Senior Day celebrations will take place on April 27 prior to the doubleheader against SBU.
Game 1 @ Illinois Springfield
The Bearcats used a quick lead in the first inning to break the game open, holding a 3-0 advantage after the opening half inning. Graduate infielder
Olivia Stansbury knocked in the first run with a single to center field, driving in junior utility
Heaven Lawrence. Senior outfielder
Taylor Witges followed up the Stansbury hit with another single to bring home Stansbury for the 2-0 lead. Junior infielder
Sarah Roth closed out the opening inning with another single to score senior outfielder
Jordan Sapp for the 3-0 lead. Sophomore infielder
Lauren Harris doubled in the second inning to bring home two more runs in Lawrence and senior infielder
Reagan Cheely, making it a 5-0 game.
Then in the fourth, the Bearcats added anther score with a wild pitch allowing Lawrence to make it around to home. Witges drove in the final run of the game with a double to score Sapp, pushing the advantage to 7-0.
Quaethem (18-7) tossed another complete game with five strikeouts while allowing just three hits and no walks.
Game 2 @ Illinois Springfield
McKendree had to play a game of comeback in the latter contest of the day but opend the first with a lead as Stansbury grounded out, allowing Cheely to score. UIS tied it in the bottom end of the first. Harris then put McKendree back on top with a triple to right field, again scoring Cheely, putting the score at 2-1. UIS nabbed the 4-2 lead over the third and fourth innings. McKendree nearly made the comeback in the seventh with Witges collecting a bases-loaded walk for Lawrence to score.
The run following the Witges walk was the final of the game. Junior hurler
Paige McAllister threw four punchouts over 3.1 innings while Quaethem closed up the game with 2.2 innings thrown and two strikeouts.
UP NEXT
April 27 | 12PM / 2PM vs Southwest Baptist | Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois |
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April 28 | 12PM / 2PM vs Drury | Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois |
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