BENTONVILLE, Ark. - The University of Illinois Springfield softball team opened its 2015 slate with two wins at the UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. on Friday morning. UIS won 6-4 against Missouri Southern and then came from behind to win over Rockhurst, 6-5, in the second game of the day.

In the opening game, both teams scored a run in the first inning. Junior Brittany Miller (Washington, Ill.) sent a single to left center to bring home senior Lauren Hollinshead (Sherman, Ill.) who was hit by a pitch to open the game.

UIS played three runs in the top of the third on Miller's second hit of the day when she sent a home run over the center field fence. She brought in senior Chelsea Minor (Petersburg, Ill.) and freshman Tess Hupe (Saint Charles, Ill.) who reached on a walk and a single, respectively.

The Prairie Stars plated two more in the next inning to hold a 6-1 lead, but Missouri Southern scored in the bottom of the frame to pull within four. After a pitching change for UIS, the Lions were able to push across a two-run homer. Sophomore Taylor Bowlby (O'Fallon, Ill.) settled in to the circle and was able to get one swinging and two ground outs to secure the victory.

Junior Alexandria Smith (East Peoria, Ill.) tossed six innings, surrendering eight hits and four walks, while striking out eight in the first win of the saving. Bowlby earned the save in her first outing for the Stars. Missouri Southern's Ashley Lutz gave up six runs on five hits and three walks in three innings of work. Reliever Shelby Mitchell tossed four scoreless innings with threewalks and two strike outs.

Miller once again got things started for UIS against Rockhurst. She hit a double through the right side to score Hupe who reached on a single. In the second inning, UIS pushed two across the plate to own a 3-0 advantage.

The Hawks though responded with a three-run inning in the third on a home run from left fielder Carolina Lippe. Rockhurst plated runs in the fifth and sixth while Demi Plathe held UIS to just one hit in three innings. Plathe went 5.0 innings, giving up five hits, three runs (two earned) and no walks while striking out four.

A call to the bullpen proved to be ineffective as Rockhurst allowed three runs on two errors and one hit in the sixth to give the Prairie Stars the sweep. Madison Wagner surrendered four walks during the stretch as well including the game-tying run. A wild pitch from pitcher Bridgette Sappington then pushed Amanda Gosbeth (Carol Stream, Ill.) across for the victory.

Bowlby started in the circle with seven hits and three runs in two innings. Smith earned her second win of the day in five innings with four hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and a strikeout.

Miller was 4-for-7 for the day with five RBI and was the only player with a multi-base hit.

UIS continues on Saturday against Central Missouri at 9 a.m. and Northwest Missouri in the afternoon.