ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team split its doubleheader against No. 20 McKendree at Bearcat Field on Saturday afternoon in Lebanon, Ill. The Tritons dropped the opener 4-2 but rallied to win the second game 12-8 to earn the upset victory.
Game 1: McKendree 4 UMSL 2
The Bearcats (30-10, 11-5 GLVC) jumped out to an early lead when Jasmine Myers hit a two-run home run to left center field in the first inning that scored Lauren Harris.
McKendree got another run in the third inning, again thanks to Myers, who singled to right field, bringing home Sami Huck who had singled to open the inning.
The Tritons (17-17, 11-4 GLVC) pulled to within one in the sixth inning, getting their first two batters on base thanks to back-to-back singles.
Kaytie Kossina grounded out to advance the runners to second and third before
Kiley Sullivan doubled to left field to bring home
May Pasqualini and
Jamie Widule.
McKendree restored its two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a double to center field from Rudy Dobbins that scored Paisley Twait from second.
UMSL had six hits in the contest and was led by Pasqualini with a pair while Widule, Kossina, Sullivan and
Phoebe Miller had one apiece.
Sasha Buckberger pitched four innings in the loss, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out four to fall to 4-3 on the season.
Game 2: UMSL 12 McKendree 8
The Bearcats got on the board first again in the second game of the day. Trista Moore brought home Harris with a sacrifice fly to right in the first and then in the second Ryleigh Albers hit a solo home run to make it 2-0.
The Tritons came alive in the third inning, scoring four runs. Widule walked before Sullivan hit a double to center field to score Widule from second, putting the Tritons on the board. Sullivan advanced to third base on a wild pitch before
Kenzie Stolz put the ball in play bringing Sullivan home.
Simia Spahiev singled to the shortstop to bring home UMSL's third run of the inning and
Gracie Philpot singled to left field to bring home the final run and make it 4-2 Tritons.
McKendree answered in the bottom of the third with a double to center field bringing home the runner from third. The Bearcats added a fifth run with a single to left field and the runner on third advancing to home due to interference.
UMSL tied it in the fourth inning off a Stoltz single to center field that scored Sullivan from second base.
A four run fifth inning put the Tritons in front 9-5. Philpot doubled to right field before Pasqualini singled to left field to score Philpot for the first run. Widule singled before Kossina doubled to right field, scoring two more runs. Miller brought home the final run with a single to left field.
The Bearcats did not go quietly. Harris hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the UMSL lead to two.
The Tritons added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. With Kossina on first after being hit by a pitch, Sullivan homered to center field to make it 11-7. Later in the inning, Spahiev singled to right field scoring
Kodie vanEycke who pinch ran for Miller.
McKendree's final run scored in the seventh on a solo home run to left field Twait.
UMSL had a season-high 19 hits in the contest and were led by Spahiev with four while Sullivan and Stoltz had three each and Pasqualini, Miller and Philpot had two apiece.
Kenzie Stoltz picked up the win in relief giving up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts to improve to 3-4.
Ashley Borowitz pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn her fourth save of the season.
The Tritons head back out on the road on Sunday traveling to Springfield, Ill., for a doubleheader at Illinois Springfield starting at noon at the UIS Softball Complex.
