Lebanon, IL - Fans flocked to Bearcat Field on Friday morning to see the 14th-ranked McKendree University Softball team face off against a GLVC foe in the Missouri S&T Miners in the NCAA Midwest 2 Regional Semifinal at Bearcat Field. The Bearcats (45-14) had nearly run-ruled the Miners (37-18) about a week prior at the GLVC Tournament, but an emphasis on how anything can happen in the postseason saw a focused, an energized Bearcat squad put a five-spot up in the second inning on their way to a 6-3 win and an appearance in the Regional Championship Game on Saturday.
McKendree did fall behind early as the Miners capitalized on a leadoff walk with an RBI single for an early 1-0 lead. The Bearcats nearly answered right away, getting a walk from Jasmine Myers and a single from Paisley Twait, but both would be stranded.
Now, McKendree would prevent Missouri S&T from capitalizing on having snuffed the scoring opportunity, thanks to a two-strikeout inning from Sami Huck. That's when the Bearcat bats turned the game on its head. A 2-run single up the middle for Huck, RBI double from Lauren Harris, and 2-run single up the middle for Myers turned a 1-run deficit into a four-run lead. It was all a run that saw McKendree bat around and force an early pitching change from the Miners.
Into the bottom of the fourth, both teams had found their groove, as Missouri S&T relief pitching Mia Miller and Huck both pitched two shutout innings to keep the scoreboard at the 5-1 Bearcat lead.
The Miners nearly cut into the deficit in the fourth with a pair of singles, but they were stranded. McKendree would get back on the board in the bottom half, with Twait taking a 1-1 pitch over the center field fence to make it 6-1. The teams would trade punches, as Missouri S&T countered with a two-run blast in the top of the fifth to make it a three-run game.
The Bearcats would strand one runner each in the bottom of the fifth (Addie Clark single) and sixth (Myers walk). However, in a two-fold positive, Huck and the McKendree defense were holding the Miners scoreless and there were now just three defensive outs to secure the win.
After Huck struck out the first two batters she faced in the seventh, she drew a second-pitch flyout to Trista Moore in left to give McKendree the advancement to the Regional Championship with a three-run victory.
SHE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM SAMI HUCK
On striking out seven Missouri S&T batters in the game
"I really don't think about strikeouts all that much. I really just try to pitch to my batters."
On the ability to pitch to contact, and conversely the confidence in the defense behind her
"Well, I know in regionals, every team deserves to be here. There's going to be a lot of competition, and hitters are going to do their job and get on. I just use that as motivation and know that my teammates are there to back me up."
On the 10-batter second inning, specifically her two-run double sparking it
"I just try to focus on needing to get a run in or move them over for Lo (Lauren Harris). I know that Lo and Jazz (Jasmine Myers) are right behind me and I can trust them."
On how someone in as significant a spot as the circle balances hype while staying grounded this time of year
"I really just try and stay focused. Usually there's some nerves, sometimes a little tense at the beginning, but once I get in my groove, and I get fluid, that's when I really lock in."
SHE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM COACH HEATHER TARTER
On more perseverance despite falling behind early
"I think the last four games we've been down early. We're kind of used to that at this point, but having confidence that we can come back, especially after yesterday, to come back to beat Rockhurst. I think that gave us confidence in this one. We're never out."
On balancing what went well in the GLVC Tournament meeting whilst also knowing it's a new day
"Props to four GLVC teams making the regional. I mean, that's awesome. Just being able to battle each pitch, stick to our plan, and it really just comes down to who's going to execute."
On the significance of Sami Huck's 2-run hit, especially knowing what followed the rest of that inning
"Oh, that was huge. Getting her fired up and getting the team fired up, and having a senior step up in that big inning to really get us going was awesome."
On Paisley Twait's home run
"We needed a little bit extra after we'd just given up the home run. So, giving us a little bit of a boost is exactly what we wanted. We can never count a team out, so we had to keep grinding, and she helped us do that."
On Sami Huck's efforts in the circle
"She was very good today. Obviously, she let one or two pitches go, but she was very good. That's one of the best hitting teams in the GLVC, and she was hitting her spots. She had full command of every pitch."
On the opportunity to play for McKendree Softball's first-ever Regional Championship
"I just told the team - we were in this position last week and no one else here has been. We have the mindset of 'we've been here'. We know what it's like. We know what it's going to take. Just taking it one pitch at a time and focusing on the moment."
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
2026 Midwest 2 Regional Championship
vs. (7) Rockhurst Hawks (37-20)
Saturday, May 15th - 1:00 PM
at Bearcat Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Watch Live (NCAA.com)
Live Stats (NCAA.com)
*Loss = If Necessary Elimination Game at 3:30 PM
