BRANSON, Mo. | Branson Bash Classic - No.23 McKendree University softball (8-3) battled the cold during their trip to Branson, going 1-2 overall, including a split with No.21 Harding this past weekend. The Bearcats claimed a win over the Bison on Friday before falling to Central Missouri in extras and then dropped to the 21st-ranked squad on Saturday in a single game. McKendree's next outing is set to take place on their home field on March 1 with a doubleheader against the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan.

Friday, February 14 | Game 1 vs. No.21 Harding | W, 7-2
The Bearcats and Bison went up against each other once again in Branson, both rising into the Top-25 after the previous weekend at the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. McKendree struck first with two runs in the fifth inning, first off a fielder's choice for junior pitcher Sami Huck with freshman infielder Paisley Twait scoring on the play. Then freshman infielder Morgan Spodarek dropped in a single to drive in junior outfielder Laynee Tapp. Harding knotted the game at 2-2 in the sixth. 

In the seventh, a run was driven in by senior outfielder Heaven Lawrence via walk with Tapp crossing home plate. Then, to cap-off the contest, senior infielder Sarah Roth put the Bearcats up 7-2 off a grand slam. 

Huck (4-0) tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts while not allowing any earned runs in the performance.

Friday, February 14 | Game 2 vs. Central Missouri | L, 11-10 (8inn)
In the second game of the day, McKendree faced Central Missouri, struggling to get its offense moving early as the Bearcats trailed 7-2 after the fifth.

The seventh inning saw McKendree put up five runs to force extra innings. Junior shortstop Lauren Harris launched a double to score Tapp and Huck, cutting the deficit to three runs. Following Harris was junior infielder Ali Grenzebach, who doubled to get Harris home and put the deficit down to two runs. Junior utility Ellie Vetter then added a third double, pushing Roth and sophomore utility Katie Beagle home to tie the contest at 7-7. 

McKendree led off the eighth with Tapp knocking a single to score Vetter, giving McKendree its first lead of the day at 8-7. Harris then doubled again to score two more runs for McKendree and make it a three-run game at 10-7. Spodarek and Tapp both scored on the Harris double. 

UCM managed four runs in the bottom of the eighth, taking the game on a single.

Saturday, February 15 | Game 1 vs. No.21 Harding | L, 6-3
McKendree looked to add another ranked win over Harding to conclude the weekend, starting off well with a 1-0 in the second off a homer by Vetter. Harding tied the game in the top end of the third before the Bearcats went up 2-1 in the bottom half. Twait scored Spodarek on a ground out for the lead.

Harding went on a run in the sixth, scoring five to make it a 6-2 game. McKendree attempted to make another come back, with Roth pushing Harris home on a single, cutting the lead to three runs for the Bison at 6-3. The Bearcats were unable to mount a further comeback, dropping to No.21 Harding.