LEBANON, Ill -- The Cardinal Softball team faced McKendree University for another doubleheader on Thursday (Mar. 8) afternoon on the 2018 spring trip. The Cardinals would fall twice to the Bearcats, dropping the opener by an 8-3 count before falling just short in eight innings in the second game, 3-2.
Game 1 (L, 8-3)
SVSU led 2-0 after two innings of play, plating a single run in each of the first two frames for the lead. Courtney Reeves scored Maddy Burgess for the first run on a ball to right field in the top half of the 1st. The 2nd inning saw Lauren Bachert reach base with a two-out double and come around on a Becky Corbett single to center field.
Another run came the Cardinals' way in the top of the 4th, as Reeved led-off the inning with a solo shot to right center. That made the score 3-0 in SVSU's favor.
The Bearcats pushed a single run across in the home half of the 5th inning to trim the deficit to 3-1. The big blow came for them in the bottom of the 6th, when the home squad scored seven runs on five hits, taking control of the lead and game at 8-3. That's where the final score would remain for the opener.
Six Cardinals had one hit-apiece, with Bachert and Burgess having a double each. Reeves had the solo home run while Corbett had the RBI single as well.
Mikayla Alexandrou (1-3) took the loss in the circle, working 5.2 innings while allowing seven runs on seven hits. She struck-out a pair of batters and walked four.
Game 2 (L, 3-2 | 8 Inn.)
McKendree took a 1-0 edge in the 2nd inning on a solo home run for the first score of the contest.
The Cards responded in the next half inning, however with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Meredith Rousse had a two-out infield single and she was brought home by another Reeves home run that followed.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Bearcats scored an unearned run to knot the score at 2-2.
Despite a bases-loaded opportunity in the 7th for SVSU, the game would go to the 8th inning tied at 2-2.
After the Cardinals went scoreless in the top of the 8th, McKendree used three hits to score a run and finish the game with a 3-2 victory.
Reeves had both RBI for SVSU with her two-run shot. Bachert and Rousse were each 2-for-4 as well, with Rousse adding a run scored. Meagan VerVaecke had an extra-base hit as well for SV with a double.
Anna Conard (4-1) took her first loss of the season, allowing two earned runs while scattering 12 hits. She had three strikeouts and six walks.
Up Next...
The Cardinals play at Missouri-St. Louis on Friday (Mar. 9) in another doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm eastern time from St. Louis.
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