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McKendree University Athletics

Schedule

04072025_SB_@ UIS_Tapp
Pat Knapinski
7
Winner ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD UIS 30-18
2
McKendree MCK 32-20
Winner
ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD UIS
30-18
7
Final
2
McKendree MCK
32-20
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD UIS 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 7 9 2
McKendree MCK 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 5 1

W: R. Bartletti (19-8) L: Huck, Sami (14-11)

Game Recap: Softball | | Patrick Knapinski, Assistant SID

4 Seed Softball Falls in GLVC Tournament Opener Against 5 Seed UIS

Bearcats look to survive and advance in pursuit of an NCAA bid

EAST PEORIA, Ill. | EastSide Centre - Fourth-seeded McKendree University softball (32-20, 18-10 GLVC) fell in its opening round game of the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, dropping to fifth-seeded UIS,7-2, in a hard-fought battle through the end of the game. McKendree mounted a comeback in the fifth inning, chopping the UIS advantage down to one run but was unable to stride beyond the Stars lead. The Bearcats now enter the survive-and-advance stages of the tournament, taking on eighth-seeded Rockhurst in the 10:00AM match up on Thursday, May 1 at the EastSide Centre. 

GLVC SB Tournament | Game 1 vs. (5) UIS | L, 7-2
The Bearcats went down early to the Prairie Stars with a short lapse but battled back through the game to settle in and keep it close. The first two innings put McKendree down three runs but in the fifth, the fourth-seeded Bearcats hit a quick stride with a pair of runs. The stretch began with a walk drawn by junior infielder Ali Grenzebach, which then saw sophomore Katie Beagle come in and pinch run for Grenzebach. The action grew with freshman catcher Morgan Spodarek single out to left, pushing Beagle over to third before senior infielder Jenna Roth reached on a fielder's choice in a sac bunt situation, which loaded the bases. 

In the latter moments of the fifth, junior pitcher Sami Huck dropped a single out to short, driving through the two runs, making it a 3-2 contest. The Bearcats were unable to hold off UIS in the final inning, with the Prairie Stars taking the game, 7-2.

Junior shortstop Lauren Harris led the offensive effort with two hits, while Huck, Spodarek, and junior outfielder Laynee Tapp each tallied one. Huck tossed six innings with four punchouts. 

UP NEXT | GLVC Softball Tournament - Elimination Game
May 1 | 10:00AM vs. #8 Seed Rockhurst | Field 1 - EastSide Centre - East Peoria, Ill. | Watch / Live Stats

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