Lebanon, IL - The wind was whipping around Bearcat Field on Sunday afternoon, as the 17th-ranked McKendree University Softball team convened for one final set of regular-season games, taking on the Quincy Hawks. McKendree (40-12, 21-7 GLVC) was able to get to the scoreboard early and often in both games, sweeping the day with wins of 10-0 and 11-0, both ending in five innings. Sami Huck threw a no-hitter in the opener, and both Ellie Vetter and Olivia Tipton held the Hawks (8-44, 4-24 GLVC) to a one-hit shutout in the finale, while at the plate, Jasmine Myers would slug two home runs to lead a hitting-crazed weekend for the Bearcats.
GAME ONE | #17 McKENDREE 10, QUINCY 0 (5 INN.)
The first game of the day did not get off to the most conventional start, with the Hawks instantly getting two runners on with nobody out, with a stolen base putting both of them in scoring position. Alas, enter Sami Huck, who responded to that by striking out the next three straight Quincy batters to end the inning.
McKendree would waste no time generating offense, with singles from Huck and Lauren Harris leading to an RBI single from Jasmine Myers and an RBI single from Paisley Twait to take an early 2-0 lead after one.
After Huck struck out the side again, the Bearcats added on. Molly Bartz drew a leadoff walk, which bodes well more often than not. Then, after a single from Addie Clark and fielder's choices from Huck and Harris, that put two on with two outs for Myers, who hit a three-run shot to make it 5-0.
It was another 1-2-3 inning in the third for Quincy, but McKendree opened it up in the bottom half of the inning. Ali Grenzebach legged out a triple to right to spark the lineup, soon followed by a Trista Moore RBI single and a Bartz walk. After waiting out a 2-0 count, Clark hit the Bearcats' second three-run home run of the game, with this one creating 'run-rule margin' at 9-0 and forcing a pitching change.
Huck would cycle through with three more strikeouts in the fourth, although this time surrendering a base runner via an outfield error, but it would end up as a non-threat to the run column. McKendree continued to pile on in the fourth, thanks to a Twait double and Laynee Tapp's walk to put runners on first and second for Grenzebach, who sent an RBI single to right. That gave the Bearcats their second 10-run game of the weekend.
With Quincy needing to score three runs to extend the game, it was a tough task, but not without a fight, thanks to a leadoff walk. Huck concluded her no-hitter by striking out Hawks number 11 and 12 before Bartz brought in a flyout to end the game.
GAME TWO | #17 McKENDREE 11, QUINCY 0 (5 INN.)
More of the same would run its course in game two. Quincy created early traffic in the first, this time via a single and a stolen base, but Ellie Vetter drew three straight flyouts or popouts for a scoreless frame.
McKendree answered in a big way, getting a two-run double from Paisley Twait, an RBI walk from Molly Bartz, and an RBI hit by pitch from Addie Clark, all in an inning that forced two separate pitching changes.
Another go-around saw a 1-2-3 Hawks second followed by Bearcat scoring, this time from Twait scoring on an inning-ending fielder's choice, set up by a Lauren Harris walk and consecutive singles from Twait, Laynee Tapp, and Ali Grenzebach.
In the third, repeat. Quincy went 1-2-3 in the top half, then McKendree unfurled in the bottom half. A Bartz walk and a Sami Huck single put two on for Lauren Harris, whose RBI single put the Bearcats on the doorstep of run rule. Jasmine Myers would then step up and hit her second home run of the day, this one also of the three-run variety, making it 9-0. McKendree eventually breached double figures for the second straight game, getting a Trista Moore RBI single and a Clark RBI single to set what would turn into the final score.
Coach Heather Tarter went to a new battery for the fourth, swapping Ellie Vetter and Paisley Twait for Olivia Tipton and Grace Cavanaugh. Their first inning as a duo went quickly, with a Hawk reaching on an error being the only baserunner. While the Bearcats did have a 1-2-3 inning of their own in the fourth, they were already beyond run rule.
After Rudy Dobbins subbed in at first base for Myers, Tipton and company made short order of the last half inning, with a strikeout and a pair of popouts bringing the game to another early end.
BALANCED EFFORT - ELITE PITCHING + POWERFUL BATS
McKendree's defense has held opponents to shutouts in four consecutive games, and five of their last six.
This past weekend alone, the Bearcats combined to roll to 38 runs and 48 hits, while their opposition was limited to 0 runs and 3 hits.
LET THE SECOND SEASON BEGIN - GLVC BRACKET SET
The Bearcats earned the 3rd seed in this year's GLVC Tournament, matching their preseason conference ranking. They will face the 6th seed, the UIS Prairie Stars, in the first round.
A full seed list goes as follows: #1 UIndy, #2 Missouri S&T, #3 McKendree, #4 UMSL, #5 Rockhurst, #6 UIS, #7 Maryville, #8 Drury.
There will be plenty more details to come in a GLVC Tournament Preview, anticipated for publication Monday evening - Tuesday morning.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE BEARCATS
2026 GLVC Tournament First Round
vs. #6 UIS Prairie Stars (32-18)
Wednesday, May 6th | 1:00 PM CST
at Eastside Centre - East Peoria, Illinois - Field #2
Watch Live ($) (GLVCSN)
Live Stats (Sidearm Sports) *Link TBA*
