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Box Score 2 Bartow, FL - The 23rd-ranked McKendree University Softball team (16-5) had an early start to their Sunday in Florida at the Spring Games, as a scheduled 9AM central first pitch against the Clarion Golden Eagles got their day started before playing immediately afterward against the Edinboro Fighting Scots. The Bearcats stacked together two productive performances, producing 20 runs and 22 hits across victories over the Golden Eagles, 8-3, and the Scots, 12-2 in five innings.
GAME ONE | #23 McKENDREE 8, CLARION 3
McKendree created separation almost immediately in the opener, pushing three runs across in the first inning to establish the tone.
Sami Huck began the frame with a walk before
Lauren Harris drove a double into center field to put two runners in scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Huck to score the first run, and moments later
Trista Moore lifted a two-run home run to center that extended the lead to 3-0.
The Bearcats widened the margin in the third with a stretch of quality at bats.
Jasmine Myers started the inning with a single, and Moore followed with another base hit to put two runners aboard. A flyout moved Myers to third and set up a scoring opportunity.
Ellie Vetter then lined a single through the right side that brought home both Myers and Moore.
Laynee Tapp added another run moments later by driving a double down the right field line to score Vetter and extend the lead to 6-0.
An inning later, Mckendree added a fourth scoring inning. Harris reached on a single and moved around the bases before Moore lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that plated the run and made it 7-0. The Bearcats later added their final run in the sixth when Tapp singled and eventually scored on another RBI hit from Harris, pushing the total to eight runs on the afternoon.
In the circle,
Ellie Vetter controlled most of the game. She worked 5.2 innings and limited Clarion to three hits while navigating six walks, keeping the scoreboard clean through five innings.
Lauren Lenihan handled the sixth before
Lilly Long recorded the final out in the seventh as Clarion scored three late runs.
McKendree finished with 11 hits in the game. Harris collected three hits and scored twice, Moore drove in three runs including the early homer, and Vetter contributed two RBI singles as part of the Bearcats' offensive crusade.
GAME TWO | #23 McKENDREE 12, EDINBORO 2 (5 INN.)
The second game followed a similar track, with McKendree taking an early lead and extending it over the course of the game. In the first, Huck drew a walk and Harris doubled to left to drive in the opening run. After a groundout advanced the runners, Moore's RBI ground ball and a single from
Ali Grenzebach added two more runs to make it 3-0.
The Bearcats produced their largest inning in the second, sending nine hitters to the plate.
Ryleigh Albers opened the frame with a double and Tapp followed with another double to bring her home. Harris later added an RBI single, Myers delivered another run-scoring hit, and Twait capped the inning with a two-run double that pushed the margin to 8-0.
McKendree continued adding on in the third when Harris lined a two-run single to right field, scoring Albers and
Katie Beagle after both reached earlier in the inning. A wild pitch later allowed another run to cross the plate, stretching the lead to 11-1 before the game could get to the later innings.
The final run came in the fourth.
Jasmine Martin opened the inning with a double and moved into scoring position before Twait drove another double into the gap to bring her home and extend the advantage to 12-1.
Olivia Tipton handled the entire game in the circle for McKendree and recorded 11 strikeouts across five innings. She allowed four hits and two runs while limiting Edinboro to a single walk, repeatedly getting Fighting Scot batters to swing and miss.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
The Spring Games
vs. California (PA) Vulcans (2-6) & Ashland Eagles (4-6)
Tuesday, March 10th - 9:00 & 11:15 AM CST
Bartow Sports Complex - Bartow, FL
