Jefferson City, MO - The 18th-ranked McKendree University Softball team used a balanced mix of timely hitting and sustained runs to sweep Lincoln in a GLVC doubleheader on Sunday, taking game one by an 8-0 final before rolling to a 12-4 win in game two. The Bearcats combined for 30 runs on 30 hits across the twinbill, building early leads in both games and contributing to add on throughout.
GAME ONE | #18 McKENDREE 8, LINCOLN 0
McKendree set the tone early in the opener, scoring in four of the five innings and controlling the game from the first swing.
Lauren Harris provided the early spark, leading off the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning. The Bearcats continued to apply pressure immediately after, putting multiple runners on base and forcing Lincoln to work from behind from the outset.
The offense expanded the lead in the third inning with a well-executed stretch.
Laynee Tapp reached and came around to score, and back-to-back extra-base hits from
Trista Moore and
Ali Grenzebach drove in runs to extend the advantage. McKendree added another on a fielder's choice, turning a one-run game into a 4-0 cushion.
The fourth inning effectively put the game out of reach. McKendree strung together three consecutive hits to load the bases before Moore delivered a two-run double to center. Grenzebach followed by reaching base, and
Jasmine Myers lifted a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 7-0.
The Bearcats added one more run in the fifth on another RBI single from Tapp, capping an eight-run, 13-hit performance.
In the circle,
Sami Huck was dominant from start to finish. She tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out six and never allowing Lincoln to mount a serious scoring threat.
McKendree's offense was led by Moore, who collected three hits and drove in three runs, while Tapp added three hits and two runs scored. Harris, Grenzebach, and Myers all contributed RBI as the Bearcats produced consistent traffic on the bases throughout.
GAME TWO | #18 McKENDREE 12, LINCOLN 4
The second game followed a similar script, but even more offensive firepower as McKendree built multiple big innings to secure the sweep.
The Bearcats wasted no time jumping ahead. In the first inning, Moore doubled to open the game and quickly came around to score on a triple from Harris. Grenzebach followed with an RBI single, giving McKendree an early 2-0 lead.
After Lincoln answered with a run in the bottom half, McKendree continued to apply pressure in the second, using a combination of hits and aggressive baserunning to extend the lead to 3-1.
The game broke open in the third inning. McKendree capitalized on defensive miscues while stringing together multiple hits, scoring three runs to push the lead to 6-1. Even when outs were recorded, the Bearcats continued to move runners and force Lincoln into mistakes.
Lincoln briefly cut into the deficit in the third, but McKendree answered again in the fifth with its biggest swing of the day. After two runners reached,
Ryleigh Albers launched a three-run home run to center field, extending the lead to 9-2 and shifting momentum firmly back to the Bearcats.
McKendree kept adding on. Harris delivered another RBI hit later in the inning, and the Bearcats tacked on two more runs in the sixth, highlighted by extra-base hits and aggressive baserunning, to push the total to 12 runs.
Lincoln managed a pair of runs in the middle innings, but the outcome was never in doubt as McKendree consistently answered each push.
Harris led the offense with four hits and two RBI, while Albers drove in four runs, including the pivotal home run. Bartz and Grenzebach each added multi-hit games as the Bearcats finished with 17 hits.
Ellie Vetter earned the win in the circle, working into the fifth inning before
Olivia Tipton closed out the final frames to secure the sweep.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
@ Rockhurst Hawks (17-14, 5-7 GLVC)
Friday, April 3rd, 2026 - 12:00 / 2:00 PM
at Loyola Park Softball Field - Kansas City, MO
