Lebanon, IL - The 16th-ranked McKendree University Softball team split a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader against Southwest Baptist on Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Field, earning a dominant 9-0 run-rule victory in the opener before falling 6-4 in the second game. The Bearcats move to 24-6 overall and 5-1 in GLVC play following the split.
GAME 1 | #16 McKENDREE 9, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 0 (5 INN.)
McKendree opened the day with one of its most complete performances of the season, combining hitless pitching with a late offensive surge to secure a five-inning shutout.
Sami Huck was nearly untouchable in the circle, tossing a five-inning no-hitter while striking out 11 batters and allowing just one baserunner via walk. She struck out multiple hitters in four of the five innings and never allowed Southwest Baptist to advance past second base.
Offensively, the Bearcats struck first in the opening inning.
Lauren Harris led off with a hit and later scored on a sacrifice fly from
Trista Moore to give McKendree an early 1-0 lead.
The Bearcats added on in the third inning as Moore delivered an RBI double and
Laynee Tapp followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 3-0.
McKendree broke the game open in the fifth with a six-run outburst. Moore and Tapp each recorded RBI singles before
Paisley Twait drove in two runs with a double.
Addie Clark capped the inning with a three-run home run to center, pushing the lead to 9-0 and ending the game early.
Moore led the offense with two hits and three RBI, while Clark added three RBI of her own. Harris reached base twice and scored three runs as the Bearcats totaled nine hits in the win.
GAME 2 | SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 6, #16 McKENDREE 4
The second game saw a shift in momentum as Southwest Baptist capitalized on early opportunities and held off a late McKendree rally.
McKendree threatened early, putting runners on in the first inning, but were unable to convert. Southwest Baptist took control in the second inning, scoring three runs on a combination of hits and walks to take a 3-0 lead.
McKendree continued to battle but were unable to break through against SBU's pitching through the middle innings. McKendree was held scoreless through five innings despite multiple baserunners.
Southwest Baptist added two more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to extend the lead to 6-0.
McKendree mounted its comeback in the sixth inning when
Addie Clark delivered a two-run home run to put McKendree on the board.
McKendree continued to push in the seventh as
Lauren Harris hit a two-run home run to center, cutting the deficit to 6-4 and bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Southwest Baptist recorded the final outs to secure the win.
Harris led McKendree with two hits and two RBI, while Clark added a home run and two RBI. McKendree finished with seven hits in the game.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
vs. Drury Panthers (11-14, 3-3 GLVC)
Sunday, March 22nd - 12:00 / 2:00 PM
at Bearcat Field - Lebanon, IL
