Lebanon, IL - The 16th-ranked McKendree University Softball team split its Sunday Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader against Drury at Bearcat Field, dropping the opener 5-0 before responding with a 10-6 win in Game 2. The Bearcats moved to 25-7 overall and 6-2 in the GLVC with the split.
GAME 1 | DRURY 5, #16 McKENDREE 0
McKendree and Drury were locked in a scoreless battle through four innings before the Panthers broke through in the fifth.
A single and two sacrifice bunts moved a runner into scoring position before an RBI hit opened the scoring. Drury added another run later in the inning on a double to take a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers created separation in the seventh. After two runners reached, a three-run home run to center field extended the lead to 5-0.
McKendree was limited to three hits in the game, with
Laynee Tapp recording two and
Molly Bartz adding a double.
Sami Huck struck out 12 batters over 6.2 innings, while
Ellie Vetter recorded the final out in relief.
GAME 2 | #16 McKENDREE 10, DRURY 6
The Bearcats responded in Game 2 with a pair of big innings to secure the split.
After falling behind 1-0 in the third, McKendree answered with two runs in the bottom half before breaking the game open in the fourth.
Trista Moore led off with a solo home run, and later in the inning,
Lauren Harris launched a three-run homer to cap a five-run frame and give the Bearcats a 7-1 lead.
Drury rallied in the sixth, stringing together hits to score five runs and cut the deficit to 7-6.
McKendree answered immediately in the bottom half. With the bases loaded,
Jasmine Myers drove in two runs with a single, and Moore followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 10-6.
Harris finished with four RBI, while Moore added two hits and two RBI as the Bearcats totaled 10 hits.
Olivia Tipton earned the win after striking out three over 5.1 innings, and
Ellie Vetter closed the door over the final 1.2 innings with one strikeout to secure the win.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
@ Missouri S&T Miners (17-11, 4-2 GLVC)
Saturday, March 28th - 12:00 / 2:00 PM CST
at S&T Softball Field - Rolla, Missouri