Lebanon, IL - The 20th-ranked McKendree University Softball team just about blew away on Sunday afternoon, as heavy wind gusts whipped around Bearcat Field, but it didn't seem to phase the Bearcats (32-10, 13-5 GLVC), who would go on to take down their GLVC rivals in the Maryville Saints (17-19, 7-9 GLVC), sweeping the doubleheader by scores of 3-1 and 8-0, the latter coming in five-inning run-rule fashion. Clutch RBI hits powered McKendree to victory in the opener, while power (three home runs) and a combined no-hitter from Sami Huck and Ellie Vetter completed the sweep.
GAME ONE | #20 McKENDREE 3, MARYVILLE 1
The first game got off to a pitchers' duel type of start, with the game scoreless through two full innings of play, with both teams having just one hit through six outs.
Maryville would be the first ones to break through, getting an RBI single in the top of the third for a 1-0 lead.
Despite the Bearcats going 1-2-3 in the third, a crucial defensive response inning saw the Saints do the same in the fourth, with Sami Huck getting two strikeouts in the frame to keep it at a one-run game. In the bottom half of the inning, Laynee Tapp led off with a single, shortly followed by Lauren Harris swiping second base to get into scoring position. With Tapp having been out on a fielder's choice, Jasmine Myers stepped up and roped an RBI single to center field, tying the game up.
Maryville would start their half of the fifth with a single, fielder's choice, and another single, but got no runs out of it, as Huck drew a groundout to Lauren Harris to snuff the threat.
Circling back to response innings, McKendree came up with some much-needed scoring in the bottom of the fifth, getting a Molly Bartz RBI double and Laynee Tapp RBI single to take a 3-1 lead, with the latter forcing a Maryville pitching change.
Into the sixth, the Saints got a leadoff single, but Huck answered that with three straight strikeouts to end the inning. The Bearcats were dangerously close to adding more insurance in the sixth, with Trista Moore (fielder's choice) and Molly Bartz (single) on base, but Maryville was able to escape the jam. A popup to Harris, Huck strikeout, and fly out to Tapp ended the game with a two-run victory for the Bearcats.
GAME TWO | #20 McKENDREE 8, MARYVILLE 0 (5 INN.)
Sami Huck was tasked with a second consecutive start in game two, and would promptly hold the Saints to the minimum through the first two innings. In the first, a unique double play saw it go Jasmine Myers to Addie Clark to Laynee Tapp to Ali Grenzebach to Lauren Harris to Trista Moore to Tapp to Harris (3-4-8-5-6-7-8-6), to wipe a leadoff walk from the basepaths. Huck helped herself out with a leadoff single in the bottom half, but would be out at second on a fielder's choice.
After a 1-2-3 two-strikeout second from Huck, the Bearcats got their first big inning of the game, thanks to the bunting efforts of one Trista Moore, whose RBI sacrifice bunt scored Paisley Twait. On the very next batter, Addie Clark lined an RBI single to center for a 2-0 lead after two.
Maryville was held scoreless again in the third, leaving room for McKendree to add on. Jasmine Myers belted a solo shot to right, expanding the lead to 3-0.
A 1-2-3 fourth would follow for the Saints. Huck helped herself out in the bottom half of the fourth, lining a 2-run single to center, and capitalizing on an error to advance to second, leaving the Bearcats thinking of a possible run-rule result, ahead 5-0 after four innings of play.
Huck would give way to Ellie Vetter in the circle for the fifth inning. Vetter would shake off a leadoff hit by pitch and get a flyout to Tapp. Harris teamed up with Myers for a 6-3 double play to end the inning.
Now, windy conditions showed north of a 20 mile per hour wind out to right field during the second game. Lauren Harris took it and ran with it, slugging a towering drive to right over Bearcat Field's scoreboard.
Paisley Twait took inspiration from that and hit a home run of her own two batters later. Ali Grenzebach would double, setting the table for Trista Moore, who would send the game final early with an RBI double to right, scoring pinch runner Jasmine Martin, and setting the eight-run margin in favor of McKendree.
The run-rule win also sealed a combined no-hitter for both Huck and Vetter, completing the sweep, McKendree's first at home in 2026.
UPDATED GLVC SOFTBALL STANDINGS
1st | #7 UIndy Greyhounds | 43-3, 17-1
2nd | UMSL Tritons | 19-17, 12-4
3rd | #20 McKendree Bearcats | 32-10, 13-5
4th | Lewis Flyers | 20-16, 9-5
5th | Missouri S&T Miners | 23-15, 10-6
6th | UIS Prairie Stars | 27-13, 11-7
7th | Rockhurst Hawks | 23-16, 10-8
8th | Drury Panthers | 19-22, 9-9
GLVC TOURNAMENT CUTOFF LINE
9th | Southwest Baptist Bearcats | 19-25, 8-10
T-10th | Maryville Saints | 17-19, 7-9
T-10th | William Jewell Cardinals | 16-22, 7-9
12th | Truman State Bulldogs | 14-26, 6-10
13th | Lincoln Blue Tigers | 17-18, 3-13
14th | Quincy Hawks | 6-34, 2-14
15th | Upper Iowa Peacocks | 5-33, 0-14
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
vs. UIS Prairie Stars (27-13, 11-7 GLVC)
Sunday, April 19th - 12:00 & 2:00 PM
at Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Watch Live ($) (GLVCSN) (Game 1)
Watch Live ($) (GLVCSN) (Game 2)
Live Stats (Sidearm Stats) (Both Games)
