The Truman State softball team played four GLVC games over the weekend, opening with a doubleheader at Illinois-Springfield on Friday before hosting No. 23 McKendree on Saturday in the Bulldogs home opener. The Bulldogs went 1-3 on the weekend but showed they can compete at the GLVC level, picking up a conference win in the series opener and playing tight games throughout.

Game 1: vs. Illinois-Springfield | March 13 | W, 3-2

Truman opened GLVC play with a hard-fought win over Illinois-Springfield in the first game of the Friday doubleheader. UIS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a stolen base by Neupauer off a strikeout, but the Bulldogs responded in the fourth when Emily Wood scored on a Katie Pilcher bunt that drew a throwing error, tying the game at one. UIS reclaimed the lead in the fifth on a Masching solo home run, but Truman had an answer in the seventh. With Camryn Kinsella on base after pinch running, Brooke Nutter delivered the go-ahead blow with a two-run home run to center field to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Jayda Long came on in the third inning and was excellent, working five innings and allowing just one run to earn the win. Cassie Smith went 3-for-4 to lead the offense.

Game 2: vs. Illinois-Springfield | March 13 | L, 1-9

The nightcap was a difficult outing as UIS took control early and never let go. Truman's lone run came in the second inning when Lily Arndt reached on a bunt fielder's choice to plate Jayda Long, who had doubled to lead off the inning. UIS scored four times in the first two innings and added three more in the fifth and two more in the sixth to pull away. Brooke Nutter threw two scoreless innings in relief to keep the deficit from growing further, and Long doubled and contributed on both ends of the day.

Game 3: vs. McKendree | March 14 | L, 0-4

Saturday's opener brought No. 23 McKendree to Kirksville, and it was a competitive pitching duel despite the final score. McKendree's Huck was dominant, striking out 11 Bulldogs over seven innings. Truman's best opportunity came in the second inning when Katie Pilcher was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a passed ball, but the Bulldogs couldn't push her across. Taylor started in the circle and the two runs she allowed were unearned before giving way to Long, who held McKendree in check through the middle innings before Feiste came on and tossed two scoreless frames to close things out. Harris homered in the fifth for the game's biggest blow.

Game 4: vs. McKendree | March 14 | L, 2-3 

The finale was the most competitive game of the Saturday doubleheader, with the Bulldogs keeping it close against the 23rd-ranked Bearcats. Truman drew first blood in the second when Maddie Hickman stole two bases and scored on a Kyleia Salyars RBI single. McKendree tied it in the third on a Harris home run and took the lead with two runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Huck and Myers. Truman cut it back to one in the sixth when Hickman scored again on a Riley Redig RBI double to left-center, but the Bulldogs couldn't push the tying run across in the final frame. Long came on in the fifth and threw two and two-thirds scoreless innings to keep Truman in the game. Hickman finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored to pace the offense.

Up Next:
Truman finishes the weekend 1-3 in GLVC play and 9-18 overall. The series-opening win over UIS and the competitive showing against No. 23 McKendree on Saturday were encouraging signs as conference play continues. After a brief home reprieve at home, the Bulldogs will head back on the road for a doubleheader against Lewis on Saturday starting at noon, followed by a doubleheader against Upper Iowa on Sunday also starting at noon.

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