The William Jewell softball team won the opener of a double header with McKendree University 5-1 before falling 9-0 in five innings in the nightcap. The game one win preserved a tie in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings between the Cardinals and Illinois Springfield who both are now 23-25 overall, and 13-15 in the league. Illinois Springfield will be in Liberty on Sunday afternoon for a matchup that will determine who earns the eighth and final postseason bid. 

In the opener, Aerin Creamer hit a two run home run in the bottom of the second inning to give Jewell an early 2-0 lead. Morgan Olson extended the margin to 3-0 with a double in the fifth that scored Shelby McGraw. The Bearcats put a run on the board in the top of the following inning on an RBI single from Megan Radae before Brooke Bernard put the game out of reach with a two run shot in the bottom of the frame. 

The Cardinals made the most of their hits, posting just six to the McKendree's eight, but scored runs on three, all going for extra bases. Creamer led Jewell with two hits while Bernard, Olson, Shelby McGraw, and Maddie Greenstreet each posted one. McGraw scored two runs while Bernard and Creamer each had two RBI. 

McGraw (14-15) earned the win in the circle going all seven innings, and allowing just one earned run on eight hits while striking out two and allowing no walks. Of 28 batters faced, McGraw forced 16 into ground ball outs. 

Game two was all McKendree as the Bearcats jumped out with a two runs in the second and tacked on three in the third and four more in the fourth to earn the 9-0 short game victory. Jewell was limited to just two hits, coming off a single from Bernard and lead off double by Madi Giles. Creamer also earned a walk in the fifth inning, to total just three Cardinal baserunners. 

Anna Biondo sufferered the loss, to drop to 7-5 on the year, allowing four earned runs on five hits. Taylor Friesen also appeared in two and two-thirds innings of relief, striking out two.

Sunday's double header with Illinois Springfield will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Spratt Sports Complex on the campus of William Jewell. 

On Saturday the Cardinals also honored the 2016 senior class of Megan Barnes, Aerin Creamer, Shelby McGraw, Nona Pauline, and Morgan Olson. Olson and Creamer are both four year players while Barnes (three years), McGraw, and Pauline each transferred to Jewell from the junior college level and have all made significant impacts for the Cardinals.