Lebanon, IL - Saturday afternoon was a rude awakening at Bearcat Field. No, not necessarily the game, but dear old mother nature decided to play her tricks ahead of Saturday's Midwest 2 Regional Final between the 14th-ranked McKendree University Softball team (45-15) and the Rockhurst Hawks (38-20). What was a 1:00 PM start time became a 2:00 PM start time, and even with that, rain continued to fall through the first couple of innings. Then there was a lengthy rain/lightning delay before the bottom of the third with Rockhurst ahead 3-0. After the delay, the two teams played to a 2-2 draw, but the Hawks' early power was enough to give them a 5-2 win and force the if necessary game, which will now be played Sunday at 12:00 PM in Lebanon.
Now, McKendree was the guest on the scoreboard for this one after the morning's coin flip, and they nearly used that to jump early. Lauren Harris and Jasmine Myers drew consecutive walks, but both would be stranded. Rockhurst responded, though, and after a leadoff hit by pitch and a successful sacrifice bunt, a two-run home run out to left gave the Hawks a two-run advantage in the infancy of the game.
McKendree drew leadoff walks from Ali Grenzebach and Sami Huck in the 2nd and 3rd respectively, but neither were able to come around and score. In between, Rockhurst added on, however. A second-pitch home run, once again to left, gave the "home" team a 3-run cushion. A fielder's choice, single, and walk loaded the bases with two outs, but Ellie Vetter came up with a big strikeout to end the inning and limit the damage.
After the Bearcats stranded the Huck walk in the top of the third, nothing had changed in the skies, but lightning detection brought the game to a screeching halt. After over an hour of delay and a half-hour warmup period, it was back to game action.
McKendree was unable to bring across a leadoff single from Laynee Tapp, and the Hawks answered back with an RBI double to pull ahead 4-0.
While the Bearcats were able to get multiple runners on - hits or otherwise - they were finally able to get to the run column in the top of the fifth, courtesy of an RBI sacrifice fly from Jasmine Myers to cut the deficit to three.
After relief pitcher Olivia Tipton held Rockhurst to a 1-2-3 inning, McKendree nearly got a response. Grenzebach and Molly Bartz drew back-to-back walks, but a fielder's choice and flyout ended the threat.
The Hawks would score their final run of the game in unconventional fashion. After a single, Rockhurst's Jasmyne Moreno swiped second base, got to third on a passed ball, and stole home to allow the Hawks to take a 5-1 lead.
Alas, the Bearcats didn't go down without a fight. After the first two batters of the 'last chance' top of the seventh recorded outs, Jasmine Myers took a hitters' count (2-0) pitch over the fence in center field to cut the deficit to three. Even further, Paisley Twait walked and Tapp singled. That meant the tying run was at the plate. Despite the comeback efforts from McKendree, the bid fell short via strikeout and Rockhurst forced Sunday's "if necessary" game with a three-run victory.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
2026 Midwest 2 Regional Championship If Necessary Game
vs. (7) Rockhurst Hawks (38-20)
Sunday, May 17th - 12:00 PM
at Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Watch Live (NCAA.com) / Link TBA
Live Stats (NCAA.com) / Link TBA
