Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROSEMONT, Ill. - The University of Illinois Springfield softball team snuck out a 4-3 victory against Saginaw Valley in its first game of the day before dropping a 9-1 decision to Upper Iowa.

The Cardinals struck first in the opening inning of the game as a lead off triple from Shelby Weeks scored on a single from Mackenzie Rousse. Rousse eventually advanced to third, but pitcher Alex Smith and the Stars got three outs to end the inning.

In the second, senior Jordyn Amos (Columbia, Ill.) singled to start the inning and moved over on a sacrifice bunt. Then junior Molly Manietta (Coal City, Ill.) stepped to the plate to deliver a two-run homer and put UIS out front.

Saginaw Valley tied the game in the fourth when a single scored a run to knot the score at 2-2.

UIS got back the lead when Brittany Miller (Washington, Ill.) hit a double and moved over on a wild pitch. Junior Ashli King (Sterling, Ill.) then hit a single to give UIS a 3-2 advantage. The Prairie Stars followed up with another run in the seventh for the 4-2 edge. A Tess Hupe (Saint Charles, Ill.) double brought home Brianna Edgar (Chatham, Ill.) who rached on a hit-by-pitch.

The Cardinals tacked on a run in the seventh and had the game-winning home run called off due to the ball hitting the ceiling which was deemed a dead ball. UIS was able to force the final out and secure the victory.

Smith and sophomore Taylor Bowlby split time in the circle. Smith went four innings, giving up five hits, two runs and three walks while striking out two. Bowlby closed out the game surrendering two hits and a run while fanning three. Sarah Vabrel got the loss with six hits and two walks, while getting six at the plate.

In game two, UIS was only able to push across one run to move to 5-3 on the season.

The Prairie Stars close out the invite on Sunday against Findlay.