Bartow, FL - The 21st-ranked McKendree University Softball team wrapped up their trip to Florida on Wednesday with an early-morning matchup against the Mustangs from Southwest Minnesota State. The Bearcats (19-5) won 7-3, producing 13 hits and using a four-run third inning to build separation. With the result, the Bearcats have now won 11 of their last 12 games heading into the start of GLVC play this weekend. McKendree opens conference competition on Saturday with a road series at Truman State.
McKendree moved in front immediately in the bottom of the first.
Lauren Harris opened the inning with a single and advanced into scoring position before
Paisley Twait brought her home on a fielder's choice to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. Southwest Minnesota State tied the game in the third, but McKendree responded in the bottom half with its most productive stretch of the morning.
Harris again sparked the inning with a single, and
Sami Huck followed with a bunt hit to put two runners aboard.
Jasmine Myers then lined an RBI single through the left side to score Harris and move Huck into scoring position. Twait added another base hit to load the bases before
Ali Grenzebach delivered an RBI single to left.
Trista Moore followed with a run-scoring single of her own, and
Ryleigh Albers lifted a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Twait to tag and score as McKendree pushed four runs across in the inning to take a 5-1 lead.
The Bearcats extended the margin in the fourth when Harris doubled down the left field line and later came home on another RBI single from Myers, stretching the advantage to 6-1. An inning later, Moore reached base and eventually scored when
Laynee Tapp drove a single down the right field line to add another run.
Southwest Minnesota State added runs in the sixth and seventh, but Huck finished off the victory in the circle. Huck worked all seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out eight and issuing only one walk.
McKendree's offense got production throughout the lineup. Harris finished 3-for-4 and scored three times from the leadoff spot, Myers recorded two hits and drove in two runs, and Huck added two hits. Twait, Grenzebach, Moore, Albers, and Tapp each contributed an RBI as the Bearcats got seven runs in 13 hits.
The win closed out an impressive stretch of performances in Florida and gives the Bearcats plenty of momentum heading into Saturday's conference opener in Kirksville.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE #21 BEARCATS
2026 GLVC Opener
@ Truman State Bulldogs (8-16)
Saturday, March 14th - 12:00 PM (DH)
Bulldog Softball Park - Kirksville, MO
Watch Live ($) (GLVCSN) - Game 1 Link
Watch Live ($) (GLVCSN) - Game 2 Link
Live Stats (Sidearm Sports)
