EAST PEORIA, Ill. | EastSide Centre - Fourth-seeded McKendree University softball (36-21, 16-10 GLVC) survives and advances in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament on Saturday, first taking out local-foe and fifth-seeded Missouri St. Louis to begin the day, 8-0 (5 innings) and then capturing a 12th inning walk-off win over seventh-seeded Missouri S&T, 2-1. The Bearcats opened the tournament by dropping their contest against UMSL on Thursday afternoon, 6-4, but bounced back with three-straight wins to get to the true semifinal battle on Sunday at 10AM against S&T. McKendree first walked-off against #8 seed Maryville on Friday, then handily defeated UMSL on Saturday morning before tallying the extra-innings win over the Miners on Saturday afternoon. McKendree will look to make the tournament championship game with another win over #7 seed Missouri S&T, which would pit the Bearcats against the top-ranked UIndy Greyhounds at 12:30PM on May 5.

Game 3 vs. #5 UMSL (GLVC Championship - Game 9 - Elimination Game)
The Bearcats looked to avenge their opening round loss to the Tritons and did just that in impressive fashion. The offense for McKendree blasted off early with three runs in the first inning with graduate infielder Olivia Stansbury knocking a double to drive in both sophomore infielder Lauren Harris and senior infielder Reagan Cheely. Harris and cheely both reached via singles in the first inning, part of a four-hit, three-run opening battery performance. In the second, the Bearcats added another run with a sacrifice fly by Cheely, which brought sophomore catcher Mollie Vetter home after Vetter reach via walk to start the second. 

McKendree found another run in the bottom half of the third with Vetter sending a blooping single down the right field line, scoring senior outfielder Taylor Witges. McKendree's fourth inning wrapped up the offense side for the Bearcats with three runs coming home as junior utility Heaven Lawrence, Harris, and Witges all scored. McKendree held its 8-0 lead in the fifth behind junior hurler Paige McAllister, who saw her first postseason action with the Bearcats. McAllister (14-11) notched a complete game victory with just two hits while striking out four Tritons. The Bearcat battery had their eight runs come off eight hits while tallying nine runners via walk while Stansbury and junior infielder Sarah Roth each bombed a double.

Game 4 vs. #7 Missouri S&T (Semifinal - Game 1)
The Bearcats had a tall task in the latter game on Saturday, facing the Miners of Missouri S&T, who were unbeaten in the championship tournament at that time. McKendree faced its challenge with gusto, scoring first with a run in the third inning to lead 1-0. The run came behind a fielder's choice play, by Cheely, which gave Lawrence the chance to dive home for the early-game advantage. 

The Miners knotted the game at one run a piece in the top of the fourth, which eventually pushed the game into extra-innings as defense and pitching came into effect. The Bearcats broke through with a multitude of runners in the 12th inning, first with Cheely knocking a single to center before Harris reached via walk, putting two runners on the bags. Witges came up to bat, reaching via fielder's choice while Cheely was forced out at third and Harris advanced to second base. Roth was next up at the plate, battling to a full 3-2 count before connecting on a ball. The shot by Roth went right back at the pitcher, who deflected the ball and gave Roth time to reach first while Witges and Harris advanced bases. Witges continued towards third, getting into a run-down and subsequently allowing Harris to make a move for home. 

Harris made her speedy dive home, avoiding the tag and scoring the walk-off run for the Bearcats, which forced a second semifinal game with the Miners on Sunday morning. 

McAllister and senior pitcher Ellie Quaethem both tallied effective outings for McKendree in the semifinal game with McAllister going the first 4.1 innings before Quaethem closed out the final 7.2 for the win. The pair had seven combined strikeouts with just one earned run and seven hits combined over the 12-inning contest.

UP NEXT | GLVC Championship - Semifinal (Game 2)
May 5 | 10AM vs. #7 Seed Missouri S&T | EastSide Centre - East Peoria, Illinois
Championship Central
Tickets | Watch ($) | Live Stats

Fourth-seeded McKendree will fight for its first GLVC championship final appearance since 2021. The Bearcats also earned their first wins in the conference championship tournament since 2021 this spring, marking three so far. 

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