LEBANON, Ill. | Bearcat Field - McKendree University softball (31-20, 14-10 GLVC) captured a split on Thursday afternoon against the Drury Panthers, taking game one by a 4-1 score but dropped game two, 7-6. The Bearcats hold fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference going into their final two games, looking to finalize their position in the conference championship tournament on May 2-5 in East Peoria at the EastSide Centre. McKendree hosts Southwest Baptist in its final doubleheader of the regular season on April 27 at Bearcat Field with senior day celebrations taking place prior to first pitch.

Game 1 vs. Drury
McKendree looked to topple the squad sitting just above them in the league standings with Drury narrowly holding the record advantage over the Bearcats this spring. The Bearcats found themselves in the lead early as senior outfielder Taylor Witges singled through the middle infield to score junior utility Heaven Lawrence, making it a 1-0 contest. The scoring and lead held until the fourth with McKendree adding three more runs, first behind a single out to right by sophomore catcher Mollie Vetter, which scored senior outfielder Jordan Sapp and junior infielder Sarah Roth. Senior infielder Reagan Cheely then followed the single by Vetter with another single to right, scoring sophomore utility Jenna Getz. 

McKendree held the shutout until the seventh when the Panthers fired a solo homer to cut the Bearcats' advantage to three scores. The Bearcats held off Drury for the victory with senior Ellie Quaethem (19-7)earning the win with four punch outs.

Game 2 vs. Drury
The Bearcats set their aim on the sweep against Drury in game two, taking a lead in the third inning to push for the unbeaten day. McKendree's scoring was led off by sophomore infielder Lauren Harris, who doubled out to right center to drive home Cheely for the 1-0 lead. Graduate infielder Olivia Stansbury then sent a high flying home run to left which also scored Harris for the 3-0 advantage for the Bearcats. 

Drury managed to fire off two runs in the fifth to cut the lead down to just a run but McKendree responded with Vetter knocking a single to center, which scored Witges. The Bearcats led 4-3 following the top of the sixth. Harris added onto the lead in the bottom of the sixth as she hammered a ball out to center for a two-run homer, making it 6-3. Drury made a final push in the seventh to take and hold the lead, with the Bearcats falling 7-6. 

UP NEXT
April 27 | 12PM / 2PM vs Southwest Baptist | Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois | Watch / Live Stats

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