UMSL takes mid-week sweep over McKendree
UMSL Sports Information
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
LEBANON, ILL. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis softball team scored five unanswered runs en route to a 5-2 game one victory at McKendree University Monday afternoon in non-conference action. The Tritons also scored five unanswered runs in the nightcap and held off a Bearcats rally en route to a the 5-4 win to complete the sweep.
UMSL improves to 17-16 overall, while McKendree slips to 21-16.
The hosts got on the board first in the opener, scoring two runs on an Ashley Parrott triple. The Tritons then took advantage of three Bearcat errors in the fifth inning to tie the score at 2-2 before sophomore Leslie Davis blasted a two-run homer in the sixth to give UMSL a lead it would not relinquish.
Another McKendree error in the top of the seventh allowed the Tritons to plate an insurance run for the final score.
Junior Stephanie Benson pitched five and two-thirds of an inning in relief to pick up the win, while improving to 7-4 on the season. She didn’t allow any runs on four hits and struck out four, while issuing just one walk.
UMSL finished with six hits, while McKendree recorded seven.
The Bearcats then jumped out to another 2-0 lead in game two, before UMSL staged another comeback. Senior JaCee Ellis recorded a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score junior Erin Driskell before delivering a two-run homer in the fifth inning that also scored Driskell for a 3-2 lead.
Sophomore Haleigh Jenkins then homered in the sixth inning for a 4-2 advantage before sophomore Paris Burger scored on a throw to second that caught junior Courtney Gahan stealing.
McKendree plated another run in the bottom of the sixth and added one in the bottom of seventh before leaving the bases loaded to end the game.
Driskell and Ellis each had two hits to lead the Tritons, which finished with eight hits. McKendree tallied 10 hits.
Senior Crystal Koehler notched the win on the mound, working five innings, while Benson earned the save. Koehler allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four, while Benson allowed one run on three hits.
UMSL returns to action Thursday, traveling to Lindenwood University for a 5 p.m. doubleheader.