McKendree, SIUE sweep softball doubleheaders

The McKendree University softball team swept its second-consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday with a pair of wins over University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

The Bearcats improve to 15-19 overall and 9-7 in the GLVC, and will host Lewis University on Sunday for a doubleheader at 12 p.m.

McKendree scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in game one to break open a tie game and win 8-3. A double by Hanna Branch brought in Jamie Doggendorf to score from first to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning, before adding two runs on a double by Brooke Gajewski in the third inning.

In the fifth, another double by Gajewski scored Doggendorf and Branch, and Marla Schulte (O’Fallon) hit a double of her own later in the inning that scored Holly Magre from from third. Dani Schoenbacher (Pinckeyville) followed with a two-run homer to put McKendree in front 8-3.

Holly Magre improved to 9-6 with the win and struck out 14 in seven innings pitched.

Gajewski led McKendree at the plate in the first game with two doubles and four RBI.

In game two, the Bearcats scored runs in the first four innings to cruise to a 7-1 win.

Maci Ingram (Nashville) improved to 4-7 and struck out eight in the win.

SIUE 2-5, Southeast Missouri 1-4

Alyssa Heren blasted a game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two Saturday as SIUE softball gained a pair of victories over Southeast Missouri in Edwardsville.

SIUE, 11-16 overall and 5-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, will go for the series sweep Sunday in a 1 p.m. contest at Cougar Field.

The Cougars won the opener 2-1 and took game two 5-4. It was the 12th and 13th one-run game of the season for the Cougars, who are now 6-7 this season under that scenario.

Heren’s team-leading fourth home run of the season was hit to right field and broke a 4-4 tie.

The home run was part of a season-high 13 hits for the Cougars in game two.

The top three hitters in SIUE’s lineup accounted for 10 of the 13 hits.

Heren was 4 for 4 in the game. Jordan LaFave and Tess Eby each were 3 for 4.

Heren finished the day 5 for 6 at the plate with a triple, a home run and a 1.667 slugging percentage.

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 12:22 AM with the headline "McKendree, SIUE sweep softball doubleheaders."