ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team dropped a pair of tightly contested games to McKendree on Sunday afternoon at Bearcat Field in Lebanon, Ill. The Tritons (16-14, 3-3 GLVC) fell in the opener 3-1 and the second game 3-2.
Game 1 – McKendree 3 UMSL 1
The Bearcats (22-11, 5-1 GLVC) took the early lead in game one getting back-to-back to home runs from Olivia Stansbury and Reagan Cheely leading off the second inning.
McKendree's Ellie Quaethem set down the first 16 hitters she faced and had a perfect game until one out in the sixth when
Megan Russell singled up the middle to break up the perfect game and no-hit bid. With two out,
Maddie Snemis singled to left and
Irene Travis singled up the middle to bring home Russell to cut the Bearcat lead to 2-1.
UMSL had a chance to tie the game but a groundout back to the circle ended the frame.
The Bearcats got an insurance run with two out in the bottom of the sixth. Cheely drove in her second run of the game with a single down the right field line scoring Heaven Lawrence.
The Tritons were retired in order in the seventh to end the contest.
UMSL had three hits in the contest with Russell, Snemis and Travis picking up one each.
Katie Schaake was the tough luck loser giving up three runs on six hits while striking out five in a complete game effort to fall to 4-1 on the season.
Game 2 – McKendree 3, UMSL 2
McKendree struck first in the nightcap with a pair of runs in the first inning. Cheely drove in the first run with a single to left and then Stansbury scored on an error by
Gwyn Miller to make it 2-0.
The Tritons got a run back in the fourth. With one out,
McKenzie Lamos doubled to right center and scored on Travis's single up the middle.
The Bearcats regained their two-run lead in the sixth as Stansbury led off the inning with a home run to right center.
UMSL rallied in the seventh getting a run on four hits. Travis led off the inning with a double to center and went to third on
Mia Boyd's pinch hit single up the middle. Miller brought Travis in with a single to left to make it 3-2. After a pitching change,
Simia Spahiev singled to left to load the bases with no out.
The Tritons were unable to capitalize on the opportunity as
May Pasqualini grounded into a fielder's choice as
Jamie Widule, running for Boyd, was retired at the plate for the first out of the inning. Snemis lined out to center for the second out and Russell flied out to left to end the game.
UMSL had seven hits in game two and was led by Travis with two while Lamos, Boyd, Miller, Spahiev and Pasqualini had one each.
Ashley Borowitz took the loss giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits while striking out six in a complete game effort to fall to 8-9 on the season.
The Tritons host Central Missouri in their home opener this Tuesday (March 26) at 2 p.m. at the UMSL Softball Field.
