EAST PEORIA, Ill. -- No. 2 Missouri S&T softball battled through day two fo the GLVC Tournament on Thursday, falling to No. 3 McKendree 6-0 before concluding its tournament run against No. 8 Drury later in the evening at the EastSide Centre.
Game 1 – No. 3 McKendree 6, No. 2 Missouri S&T 0
No. 2 Missouri S&T softball dropped its first game of day two at the GLVC Tournament, falling to No. 3 McKendree 6-0 Thursday afternoon at the EastSide Centre.
McKendree broke through in the third inning, using timely hitting and capitalizing on an S&T error to score three runs and take control of the game. The Bearcats added three more runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by an inside-the-park home run from Laynee Tapp and a two-RBI double from Addie Clark.
Missouri S&T threatened early in the opening inning when Taylor Nelson (Hailey, ID/Phillips Exeter Academy) and AJ Agers (DeSoto, MO/St. Pius X) recorded back-to-back singles, but McKendree escaped the jam and held the Miners off the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest.
Kaylee LaChappell (Oswego, IL/Oswego) added a single and stolen base in the fourth inning, accounting for the Miners' third hit of the afternoon.
Despite the loss, AJ Agers (DeSoto, MO/St. Pius X) battled through six innings in the circle for Missouri S&T, allowing six runs, four earned, while striking out one. The Miners turned multiple key defensive plays throughout the game, but were unable to overcome McKendree's timely offense.
Game 2 – No. 8 Drury 11, No. 2 Missouri S&T 3
No. 2 Missouri S&T battled throughout its elimination game at the GLVC Tournament, but ultimately fell to No. 8 Drury 11-3.
The Miners came out aggressive offensively, striking first in the opening inning. Taylor Nelson (Hailey, ID/Phillips Exeter Academy) singled up the middle before AJ Agers (DeSoto, MO/St. Pius X) drew a walk, setting the stage for Molly Fitzgerald (Crystal Lake, IL/Marian Central Catholic) to drive in the game's first run with an RBI single through the right side.
Missouri S&T added another run in the third inning after Nelson worked a walk and Agers singled to put runners on base.
Tori Thompson (Chandler, AZ/Basha) followed with an RBI single to left field, giving the Miners a 2-1 lead early in the contest.
Drury answered in the bottom half of the third inning, capitalizing on timely hitting and extending its lead over the middle innings despite Missouri S&T continuing to pressure offensively. The Miners recorded eight hits in the game, with Fitzgerald leading the way with a 2-for-2 performance and an RBI. Nelson, Agers, Thompson,
Morgan Williams (Midland, MI/Midland),
Keira Jones (Richmond Hill, GA/Richmond Hill), and
Claire Lopez (Olathe, KS/Olathe Northwest) also recorded hits.
Lopez added a highlight play in the sixth inning, racing around the bases for an inside-the-park home run to trim the deficit. The second baseman also stole a base earlier in the contest, while Missouri S&T continued to battle offensively despite difficult weather conditions throughout the evening.
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