The William Jewell softball team dropped two games in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Friday which draws an end the 2016 season with an overall record of 24-28. The Cardinals opened the tournament with a narrow 2-1 loss to top seed, and No. 2 ranked Indianapolis before falling to Maryville 6-0 in an elimination game. 

In the opener, the Cardinals faced three-time All-American pitcher Morgan Foley who allowed just three hits and struck out 12. Even with the domination of Foley it was the Cardinals who struck first with a run in the top of the fourth. Brooke Bernard put a single off the leg of Foley and then came around to score on a double by Nona Pauline that rolled to the left center field wall. 

The Cardinals threatened again in the top of the fifth as Anna Biondo and Madi Giles both drew walks to put two on but a strikeout ended the rally. 

In the bottom of the sixth the Indianapolis bats came alive as they scored two runs on four hits, including three consecutive singles to take a 2-1 lead. The Cardinals went in order in the top of the seventh to force them into the losers bracket. 

Jewell was outhit by the Greyhounds 6-3 despite a gem from senior Shelby McGraw. McGraw went the complete game allowing just the two earned runs while striking out five and walking none. 

McGraw's performance in the circle along with the defense from middle infielders Bernard and Megan Barnes were praised by head coach Dustin Combs following the close loss.

In the afternoon game the Cardinals matched up with Maryville University in an elimination contest. The Saints jumped on top with a run in the second inning and never looked back as they added another in the fourth, two in the fifth, and single runs in the sixth and seventh to take the game 6-0 and end Jewell's season. 

Saint senior Wendy Macias limited the Cards to just two hits, coming from Giles and Maddie Greenstreet. 

McGraw took the loss to finish her final season 15-18 overall after allowing just three earned runs on ten hits as the Cardinals were hindered by six errors. 

Despite the two losses sophomore Brooke Bernard set the new William Jewell record for single season batting average as she finished with a .422 clip, surpassing Katie Darby's mark of .405 set back in 2009. Bernard also challenged three other records but simply ran out of time as she will finish tied for third with 49 RBI along with fourth with 47 singles and 70 total hits. 

The Cardinals will graduate five seniors, McGraw, Pauline, Barnes, Morgan Olson, and Aerin Creamer but return five everyday starters for 2017, including three All-GLVC selections as well as return two year starter Kelsey Morgan, who missed the 2016 season with an injury.