Feb. 23, 2010

PULASKI, Tenn. – Sophomore pitcher Autumn Allen (Fairview Heights, Ill./Belleville East) only gave up one hit and senior's Angie Maue (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) and Natalee Rujawitz (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) both homered to lead No. 25 McKendree University to a 4-0 win over No. 8 Martin Methodist College on Sunday.

The No. 25 Bearcats, now 2-1 overall, will play Georgetown College Sunday at noon in their fourth and final game at the Martin Methodist Spring Meltdown tournament.

In the top of the first inning, freshman shortstop Elizabeth Hess (Evansville, Ill./Sparta) drew a leadoff walk and later scored from third on a two-out single by Maue to take a 1-0 lead. Allen and the McKendree defense allowed no hits over the next five innings and the Bearcats took a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning when junior pinch runner Ashley Parrott (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) scored from third on n error by the centerfielder.

Martin Methodist broke up Allen's no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning, but would not score to remain down 2-0 heading into the seventh inning. Rujawitz opened the seventh inning by hitting her first career home run to push the Bearcats to a 3-0 lead and Maue followed one batter later with her won solo shot to build a 4-0 McKendree lead. Allen struck out one batter in the seventh inning and forced a ground out and a fly out to end the game and earn her first win of the season.

Allen had four strikeouts and improved to 1-1 overall this season in the victory. Maue's home run was one of her two hits on the day, while she also had two RBI and one run scored. Rujawitz's home run was her lone hit of the day, but she also drew one walk and had one RBI and one run scored.